Human esophageal carcinoma cell lines: prostaglandin production, biological properties, and behavior in nude mice.

Prostaglandin production by two continuous human esophageal carcinoma cell lines HCU 18 and HCU 39 derived from poorly and moderately differentiated source tumors, respectively, was investigated. Behavior of both lines in vitro and upon sc inoculation into athymic randombred BALB/c nude mice was also assessed. Approximately half the xenografts induced by HCU 18 cells were invasive, whereas those initiated by HCU 39 cells were all well encapsulated. Although metastases were not detected in mice given injections of HCU 39 cells, metastatic tumors developed in 2 mice inoculated with HCU 18 cells. In addition, HCU 18 cells produced significantly more prostaglandin E (PGE) and prostaglandin F (PGF) than HCU 39 cells. These findings suggest a relationship between PGE and PGF production by human esophageal carcinoma cells and their invasive and metastatic potential in athymic mice.