The influence of follicular fluid on the proliferation of cancerous cell lines of human colon adenocarcinoma, human breast cancer, human glioblastoma multiforme and rat glioma

OBJECTIVES: Follicular fluid (FF) constitutes the natural microenvironment of the ovarian follicle and contains numerous biologically active compounds, including hormones, cytokines, growth factors, and metabolites. Increasing evidence suggests that FF may be involved in carcinogenesis not only within the female reproductive system but also in distant tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ovarian follicular fluid on the proliferation of normal human skin fibroblasts (HSF), rat glioma cell line (C6), and human cancer cell lines, including human colon adenocarcinoma (LS180), human breast cancer (T47D), and human glioblastoma multiforme (T98G). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay after 96 h of exposure to FF at concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 10%. RESULTS: Low concentrations of FF stimulated or did not affect HSF proliferation, whereas higher concentrations exerted inhibitory effects depending on the individual FF sample. In contrast, significant anti-proliferative effects were observed in all examined cancer cell lines, particularly following treatment with FF1. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that follicular fluid contains components with selective anti-proliferative activity against cancer cells.