Growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in ovarian cancer cells.

Standard therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer is radical surgery followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy using cisplatin and paclitaxel. Unfortunately, some patients relapse after this first line chemotherapy and some patients become platinum-refractory. Therefore, we analyzed two different ovarian carcinoma cell lines for their sensitivity for gamma-irradiation and treatment with cisplatin, irinotecan, paclitaxel and gemcitabine.

Progress in molecular mechanisms of tumor metastasis and angiogenesis.

The development of metastases is the major cause of death for cancer patients, however, the mechanisms of tumor invasion and acquisition of capability to metastasize remain unclear. During the past decade, knowledge regarding the molecular and cellular processes involved in the regulation of tumor metastases has dramatically increased and has been focussed on cross-talk between selected cancer cells and the specific organ microenvironment. The three-step development of the invasive phenotype of cancer cells is described: cell attachment, local proteolysis and cell migration.

Comparative analysis of CA125, tissue polypeptide specific antigen, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha levels in sera, cyst, and ascitic fluids from patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Background: The serum markers CA125, tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha (sIL-2Ralpha) concentrations were determined in sera, cyst, and ascitic fluids from patients with malignant and benign ovarian neoplasms.

Methods: CA125, TPS, and sIL-2Ralpha concentrations were measured in sera, cyst, and ascitic fluids by immunoassays in 67 patients with carcinoma and in 32 patients with benign ovarian neoplasms.

Results: CA125, TPS, and sIL-2Ralpha levels were elevated significantly in sera from patients who had ovarian carcinoma compared with patients who had benign neoplasms (P < 0.

Relations between immunologically different p53 forms, p21(WAF1) and PCNA expression in ovarian carcinomas.

The role of tumor suppressor p21WAF1 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer has not been definitely explained and the clarification of mutual p53 and p21WAF1 relations considering proliferative activity seems to be very important for understanding of a functional link between p53 and cell-cycle control. Therefore the expression of p53 and p21WAF1 was assessed immunohistochemically in a series of 50 ovarian carcinomas considering clinicopathological variables. The reactivity of three anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies (DO-7, PAb240, PAb1620) recognizing immunologically distinct forms of p53 were analysed in relation to p21WAF1 level in individual patients.

Temperature-sensitive ovarian carcinoma cell line (OvBH-1).

OvBH-1 cells from a patient with ovarian clear cell carcinoma were established and their biochemical status was analyzed. Cells grown at 37 degrees C exhibited normal cell cycle distribution, whereas the cells shifted to 31 degrees C were arrested in the G(2) / M phase of the cell cycle. Immunochemical analysis using anti-p53 antibodies (DO-1, PAb240, PAb421, and PAb1620) revealed that only the DO-1 antibody reacted with p53 with a high and similar percentage at both temperatures.