GROWTH-CONTROL OF HUMAN OVARIAN-CARCINOMA CELLS BY INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTORS

The role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in 3 cultured human ovarian cancer cell lines (PEO1, PEO4, PEO14) was investigated. All t hree cell lines express mRNA for IGF-I and the PEO14 cell line express es mRNA for IGF-II. Protein expression of IGF-II was demonstrated in t he PEO14 and PEO4 cell lines. All 3 cell lines expressed mRNA for the IGF type I, IGF type II and insulin receptors; the presence of type I IGF receptors was confirmed by immuno-cytochemistry. IGF-I and insulin markedly stimulated the proliferation of PEO1 and PEO4 but not PEO14 cells while all 3 lines were insensitive to the addition of exogenous IGF-II.