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Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Spheroid Attachment and Invasion of Mesothelial Cells in Real Time
Published on: May 20, 2014
Progesterone decreases ovarian cancer cells migration and invasion
Maíra A Lima1, Suély V Silva1, Ruy G Jaeger1
1Departamento de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 1524, Ed Biomédicas 1 sala 428, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
Abstract:
The progression of cancer depends on the interaction between the cells and their microenvironment. Progesterone is a steroid and progestogen sex hormone produced by the corpus luteum, which is a transitory endocrine gland in female mammals and prepares the endometrium for implantation. Also, progesterone is involved in antitumorigenic process in different types of cancer. Our goal is to investigate the role of progesterone in cell invasion and migration. Ovarian cells were treated with different concentrations of progesterone. 500 nM or 1 μM progesterone decreased the migration of the cells in 24 h or less without affecting the viability. Immunoblot showed that treatment with 1 μM progesterone decreased the phosphorylated forms of Src and FAK, and the cells were less polarized. Our results suggest that progesterone interferes with migration and invasion of ovarian cells. Inhibitory experiments inferred the progesterone receptor playing a role in migration and invasion. Decreased phosphorylation of molecules involved in these processes was also found.
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