Production of Extracellular Matrix Degrading Proteinases by Primary Cultures of Human Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma Cells.

The authors analyzed the secretion of extracellular matrix-degrading proteinases,including urinary-type plasminogen activator (u-PA),matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2,gelatinase A),and MMP-9 (gelatinase B),by short term primary cultures of epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells derived from primary ovarian tumors,intraperitoneal metastases,or ascites. The presence of these enzymatic activities in samples of ascites was also evaluated. The effect of adhesive substratum on proteinase production was determined.