Cell surface expression of hyaluronan on human ovarian cancer cells inversely correlates with their adhesion to peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Eight of 15 human ovarian carcinoma cell lines were shown to express high levels of hyaluronan (HA) on their surfaces. The role of cell surface HA in its adhesion to mesothelial cells, which is potentially involved in peritoneal dissemination, was evaluated. Three human ovarian carcinoma cell lines, ES-2, MH, and KF cells, were repeatedly sorted into variant cell lines with high levels of cell surface HA (ES-2/HA+7, MH/HA+7, and KF/HA+7) and with low cell surface HA (ES-2/HA-7, MH/HA-7, and KF/HA-7). The ability of these cells to adhere to peritoneal mesothelial cells was compared. ES-2/HA+7, MH/HA+7, and KF/HA+7 cells were less adherent to mesothelial cells than the ES-2/HA-7, MH/HA-7, and KF/HA-7 cells. On ovarian carcinoma cells, high cell surface HA levels seem to inversely correlate with their capacity to adhere and disseminate to the peritoneum. Considering that peritoneum implantation is the primary ovarian cancer complication, HA cell surface expression may be considered a property associated with a less aggressive phenotype, which is contrary to the general perception that HA expression is associated with malignant progression.