THE EFFECTS OF PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH-FACTOR AND RECEPTOR ON NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC HUMAN OVARIAN SURFACE EPITHELIUM

Several growth factors have been shown to stimulate or inhibit the gro wth of human ovarian surface epithelial (HOSE) cells. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is likely to be released onto the ovarian surfac e epithelium during follicular wound repair. We undertook the evaluati on of this factor and its receptor in normal and malignant ovarian cel ls. Objectives. The goal of this study was to evaluate the response of HOSE cells to PDGF in vitro and identify PDGF receptors on normal and malignant ovarian epithelial cells. In addition, we wanted to examine the prognostic value of the PDGF receptors in clinical specimens. Met hods. Normal HOSE cells were cultured and growth response to PDGF assa yed by H-3 uptake. PDGF receptor status on HOSE cells, established ova rian carcinoma cell lines, and paraffin tissue was performed by immuno histologic techniques. Data on ovarian cancer patients relapse-free su rvival (RFS) were abstracted from the Lankenau Hospital Tumor Registry and RFS was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results. HOSE cell s increased H-3 uptake in a dose-dependent manner in response to PDGF. HOSE cells stain positively for both alpha and beta receptors, as doe s the chemotherapy naive cell line A2780. The platinum-resistant CP30 cell line loses PDGF alpha staining. Of 21 ovarian cancer specimens, o nly 1 retained PDGF alpha receptors while 8 retained PDGF beta recepto rs. Those patients positive for PDGF receptor beta had a significantly longer relapse-free survival than PDGF beta receptor-negative patient s. Conclusions. PDGF enhances the growth of HOSE cells in vitro and ma y play a role in ovarian cancer development. Patients whose tumors ret ain PDGF receptor beta staining positivity have a prolonged relapse-fr ee survival, (C) 1998 Academic Press.