Biomolecules
Distinct sFOLR1 and Cytokine Secretion Profiles Across Marker-Enriched OVCAR-3 Ovarian Cancer Cell Subpopulations: A Pilot Study
By Andrei Paşca, Eva Fischer‐Fodor, Paul Milan Kubelac and 7 others.
Abstract
Background
Folate Receptor Alpha (FRα), encoded by the Folate Receptor 1 (FOLR1) gene, is expressed in many high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas, but the tumor-cell phenotypes contributing to soluble FOLR1 (sFOLR1) release remain unclear. This pilot study compared sFOLR1 and cytokine secretion across OVCAR-3 fractions enriched for CD133, EpCAM/CD326, CD90, and ABCG2/CD338.
Methods
The parental OVCAR-3 culture was phenotyped by flow cytometry and separated into marker-positive and marker-negative fractions using CD133, EpCAM/CD326, and ABCG2/CD338 immunomagnetic selection. CD90-positive and corresponding negative fractions were isolated after indirect co-culture of OVCAR-3 cells with primary mesenchymal stromal cells. Paired fractions were cultured for 120 h, and sFOLR1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 were measured at 24 h intervals.