CA125 Production by Gynecologic Tumors in Vitro and its Modulation Induced by Dibutyl Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate

CA125, an antigenic determinant in conditioned media (Ham's F-12 supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum) of gynecologic neoplasms was detected by immunoradiometric assay using a monoclonal antibody (CA125 RIA KIT). Seven out of 9 ovarian malignant tumor cell lines and 6 out of 8 endometrial carcinoma cell lines produced ≥ 8 U/ml of CA125, while CA125 values in the conditioned media of 4 uterine cervical epidermoid carcinoma cell lines, 3 uterine sarcoma cell lines and normal cells were < 8 U/ml. Human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (HUOA, HTOA, HMOA and HYOA) and endometrial carcinoma cell line (HHUA) were cultured in HB101TM serum-free medium and their proliferation and CA125 producing activity were studied. HMOA and HTOA cells produced large amounts of CA125, while HUOA, HYOA and HHUA produced small amounts of CA125 in the conditioned media. Dibutyl cyclic adenosine monophosphate suppressed their proliferation and increased CA125 levels not only in the very CA125-productive cultures, but also in the less CA125-productive cultures.