Mullerian inhibiting substance inhibits colony growth of a human ovarian carcinoma cell line.

Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), a fetal testicular product which causes regression of the Mullerian duct in the male mammalian embryo, is being evaluated as an inhibitor of genital tract tumors. The present study demonstrates in a clonogenic soft agar that biologically active MIS inhibits the growth of a human ovarian carcinoma cell line (HOC-21) in a dose-dependent manner when compared to phosphate-buffered saline medium controls, heat-inactivated MIS, or biochemical fractions which lack biological activity (P less than 0.05).