EXPRESSION OF C-FMS PROTOONCOGENE PRODUCT BY OVARIAN-CANCER CELL-LINES WITH EFFECTS OF MACROPHAGE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR ON PROLIFERATION

We studied the production of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-C SF) and the expression of c-fms mRNA, an M-CSF receptor, in four human ovarian cancer cell lines. AU four cell lines expressed c-fms mRNA wh ile three secreted M-CSF into the culture medium. The exogenous admini stration of M-CSF caused no significant enhancement of cellular prolif eration in any cell line. Interestingly, the proliferation of KK cells was not affected by anti-M-CSF antibody. These results, taken togethe r with the fact that ovarian cancer cells simultaneously produce M-CSF and c-fms, suggest that an autocrine mechanism may modulate cellular proliferation.