ESTROGEN ACTIVATES MIGRATION POTENTIAL OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCER-CELLS THROUGH BASEMENT-MEMBRANE

The migration potential through a basement membrane in an endometrial cancer cell line, such as Ishikawa, HEC-1-A or HHUA cell, in terms of strength, was enhanced by estradiol, but not modified by progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), danazol or tamoxifen alone, by whi ch estradiol-enhanced migration potential was inhibited. The order of the level of estrogen receptor was Ishikawa > HEC-1-A > HHUA cells. Th erefore, it is suggested that the invasiveness of endometrial cancer c ells might be activated by estradiol via estrogen receptors, but inact ivated by progesterone, MPA, danazol or tamoxifen as an antiestrogen a ction, and that endometrial cancer cells could become invasive in the estrogen-predominant milieu, and the antiestrogenic agents could prote ct it.