We found that METCAM/MUC18 was expressed at a level of 31–50 % in two out of three cell lines established from primary adenocarcinomas (HEY and CAOV3), but poorly expressed (1–11 %) in two cell lines established from malignant ascites (SKOV3 and NIHOVCAR3). This evidence concerns the gene MCAM and adenocarcinoma.