Phenotypic variations and differential migration of NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian carcinoma cells isolated from athymic mice

Abstract

Transplantation of the human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line, NIH:OVCAR-3 into athymic mice produces two morphologically distinct tumor cell populations (ascites and solid tumors). In the present study, we isolated both tumor cell phenotypes and investigated their relative malignant potential. Since cytoskeletal and morphological changes correlate with metastatic phenotype, expression of the intermediate-filament protein vimentin was compared between ascites and solid tumors. Ascites tumor cells showed a less differentiated epithelial morphology and concurrently expressed higher levels of vimentin. Ascites cells were more efficient in anchorage independent growth when compared with their solid tumor counterpart. Ascites tumor cells were also highly motile compared with the solid tumor cell population (P = 0.006). Migration of ascites tumor cells was further enhanced by type IV collagen, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate A. Solid tumor cells removed from the same animal, however, were not significantly affected by these agents. From these studies, we conclude that ovarian cancer cells present in ascites are phenotypic variants which are highly motile compared with solid tumor cells isolated from the same animal. Ascites tumor cells with increased motility may contribute to peritoneal seeding and metastasis.

Mesenchymal transformation in epithelial ovarian tumor cells expressing epidermal growth factor receptor variant III

“…Experimental elevation of vimentin in a breast cancer model increases motility and invasiveness in vitro and conversely, downregulation of vimentin expression in highly invasive human breast cancer cells leads to decreased migration [49]. Furthermore, acsites‐derived cells from NIH:OVCAR‐3 ovarian tumor cells transplanted into athymic mice express higher levels of vimentin than their solid tumor counterparts [50]. Similarly, N‐cadherin is thought to play a role in both stable and labile cellular interactions involved in migration [51].…”

Specific Thiazolidinediones Inhibit Ovarian Cancer Cell Line Proliferation and Cause Cell Cycle Arrest in a PPARγ Independent Manner

“…Thus, ovarian cancer cell lines have been employed to understand the fundamental processes involved in cancer cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation. The present study utilized three ovarian cancer cells, Ovcar3, CaOv3 and Skvo3, which are derived from human epithelial ovarian cancer [4], [5] to further explore therapeutic modalities in cancer cell growth and proliferation.…”

Comparative transfection studies of human ovarian carcinoma cellsin vitro,ex vivo andin vivo with poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-based polyplexes

“…In order to elucidate which component(s) of ascites had such a negative effect on the transfection efficiency, the influence of hyaluronic acid, which is present in relatively high concentrations in ascites21, 22 on the transfection efficiency was studied. In vitro cultured OVCAR‐3 cells were incubated in medium containing 10% (v/v) FCS and hyaluronic acid with polyplexes under the optimum conditions (p(DMAEMA)/plasmid ratio 1.6 (w/w), Figure 2A).…”

“…In order to elucidate which component(s) of ascites had such a negative effect on the in vitro transfection efficiency, the influence of hyaluronic acid, which has been reported to be present in relatively high concentrations in ascites21, 22, on the transfection efficiency was studied. Hyaluronic acid, a polymer consisting of a regular repeating sequence of disaccharide units (glucuronic acid and N ‐acetylglucosamine), interacts with cells and is studied for its potential role in metastases proliferation21, 22. Due to its polyanionic character, hyaluronic acid might have interacted with the positively charged polyplexes resulting in a reduction of the transfection efficiency, as has been reported for the effect of heparin on lipoplexes25, 26.…”