TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-BETA-1 (TGF-BETA-1) INHIBITS GROWTH OF A HUMAN OVARIAN-CARCINOMA CELL-LINE (OVCCR1) AND IS EXPRESSED IN HUMAN OVARIAN-TUMORS

The effects of EGF and TGF-beta1 on the proliferation of 2 ovarian carcinoma cell lines (IGROV1 and OVCCR1) were evaluated. The cell lines were adapted to grow in a restricted serum (0.5%) medium. EGF was required for proliferation of both ovarian cell lines. Low doses of TGF-beta1 inhibited clonogenic capacity and attenuated the EGF-mediated stimulation of DNA synthesis in OVCCR1 cells. TGF-beta1 inhibited OVCCR1 cell proliferation by blocking the cell cycle at the G1/S transition. TGF-beta1 did not affect either clonal or monolayer growth of IGROV1 cells. Both cell lines express type-I and type-III TGF-beta receptors, suggesting that the unresponsiveness of IGROV1 cells to TGF-beta1 occurs at a post-receptor level. TGF-beta1 mRNA was detected in OVCCR1 cells and in 8 out of 11 of the ovarian tumor specimens examined.