PAR-2 and matriptase are both overexpressed in human OvCa tumors compared to normal ovary tissue. (A) Human TissueScan Ovarian Cancer cDNA Array of 40 ovarian tumor specimens across stages I–IV and 8 normal ovary tissue specimens were assessed for PAR-2 (F2RL1) and matriptase (ST14) mRNA expression by qPCR. Data is normalized to a housekeeping control and represented relative to normal tissue. (B) PAR-2 is expressed in OvCa cell lines. Whole-cell lysates were collected from IOSE397 cells and 5 OvCa cell lines, analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotted with mouse anti-human PAR-2 (SAM11) or rabbit anti-human β-tubulin antibodies. (C and D) Matriptase-mediated loose spheroid morphology is attenuated by PAR-2 blocking antibody SAM11. ES-2 and NCI/ADR-Res Vec and Mat hanging-drop spheroids were formed for 4 d in the presence of vehicle control (DMSO) or PAR-2 blocking antibody SAM11. Representative images of DMSO and SAM11 treated Vec and Mat spheroids are shown at 4× magnification using EVOS; scale bars represent 650 μm. Source data are available for this figure: SourceData FS5.