In this study we directly compared levels of IL-1alpha-induced gene expression by analysing the levels of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11betaHSD) types 1 (11betaHSD-1) and 2 (11betaHSD-2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) and glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRalpha) mRNA between normal HOSE cells and cell lines derived from poorly differentiated (SKOV-3, BG-1, PEO-4) and well-differentiated (PEO-14) ovarian adenocarcinoma.