Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor gene expression of ovarian carcinoma does not correlate with G-CSF caused cell proliferation

BACKGROUND. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CS F) is a growth factor commonly used to avoid leukopenia after chemotherapy. Endogenous G-CSF is produced by macrophages and granulocytes that infiltra te tumors. It has been reported that rhG-CSF stimulates the proliferation o f several cell lines as well as bladder carcinoma cells. Conversely, in som e hematopoietic cell lines such as U-937, WEHI-SB, and K-562 no effect or i n some cases a differentiation pattern was found. Moreover, the role of rhG -CSF on the proliferation of solid tumors is not well understood. METHODS, In this study, 10 ovarian carcinoma biopsies were characterized fo r the presence of G-CSF and G-CSF receptor by reverse transcription-polymer ase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analysis. Proliferation was analyzed by ATP viability assays. RESULTS. Performing RT-PCR, these biopsies and four ovarian carcinoma cell lines were analyzed for endogenous G-CSF production, which was found in som e biopsies and in all cell lines. Despite the presence of the G-CSF recepto r in all biopsies and cell lines, no proliferation was found after rhG-CSF incubation of the cell lines or the tumor samples for 3 and for 6 days, res pectively. CONCLUSIONS. Summarizing the authors' in vitro studies, rhG-CSF does not af fect the proliferation of ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro. (C) 2001 Americ an Cancer Society.