Laminin mediates basement membrane induced differentiation of HEC 1B endometrial adenocarcinoma cells.

In vitro studies on endometrial carcinogenesis have been hampered by limited differentiation of the cells in culture. Using the endometrial carcinoma cell lines HEC 1B and its subclone HEC 1B(L), we established and characterized cell culture conditions that preserve a more differentiated state of the tumor cells. Randomly seeded HEC 1B(L) cells, if grown in a serum-free defined medium on top of a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel), within a few hours assembled themselves to web-like structures.

Fibronectin is an estrogen-repressed protein in RUCA-I rat endometrial adenocarcinoma cells.

We recently established and characterized two rat endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines which we called RUCA-I and RUCA-II. Despite high estrogen receptor levels neither cell line responded to estradiol in conventional cell culture conditions on plastic and in the presence of charcoal stripped fetal calf serum. We further demonstrated that culturing of these cells on a reconstituted basement membrane induced the estrogen responsiveness for both proliferation and gene expression.

Extracellular matrix induces hormone responsiveness and differentiation in RUCA-I rat endometrial adenocarcinoma cells.

We recently described the establishment and the characterization of two rat endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines which we called RUCA-I and RUCA-II. Despite fairly high estrogen receptor levels neither cell line responded to estradiol in conventional cell culture conditions on plastic and in the presence of serum. A limited hormonal response to the antiestrogen tamoxifen was detectable in RUCA-I but not in RUCA-II cells.