EFFECTS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 ON IN-VITRO CELL ATTACHMENT, MIGRATION AND INVASION OF HUMAN OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

High levels of IL-6 have been observed in ascitic fluid in patients wi th ovarian cancer. In this study, we examined the effects of IL-6 on i n vitro invasiveness of human ovarian cancer cells. Human ovarian canc er cells, NOM1 and SKOV, were used. Cell attachment to Matrigel, migra tion, and invasion were examined with or without IL-6. Zymography was preformed to analyze gelatinase production by these cells. NOM1 cell a ttachment was increased by IL-6 (0 to 10 ng/ml). In a migration assay, IL-6 ranging from 0 to 10 ng/ml showed chemotactic and/or chemokineti c activities for the two cell lines. The invasiveness of these cells w as significantly enhanced by IL-6 at the above concentrations. However , IL-6 did no modulate the production of either MMPs or TIMPs. IL-6 af fects cell invasion through its effects on attachment and migration in human ovarian cancer cells. IL-6 might thus contribute to the progres sion of this disease.