Ascitic ovarian cancer cells, which derive from solid tumors, complicate the treatment of ovarian cancer by spreading throughout the peritoneal cavity. Because basement-membrane components may influence tumor-cell proliferation and dissemination, the present studies examined the production of (a) basement-membrane attachment and migration factors (laminin, fibronectin and type IV collagen); (b) a laminin receptor, the 32/67-kDa laminin-binding protein, the presence of which correlates with malignancy; and (c) metalloproteinases (types I and IV collagenase and stromelysin), by ascitic and cultured OVCAR-3 cells and solid OVCAR-3 tumors. The cultured cells and solid tumors produced high levels of mRNA encoding attachment factors and metalloproteinases, and low levels of mRNA for the 32/67-kDa laminin receptor. In contrast, the ascitic ovarian cells had low or undetectable levels of mRNA encoding laminin, type IV collagen and metalloproteinases, but higher levels of transcripts for the laminin receptor. Our results suggest that the apparent inability of ascitic OVCAR-3 cells to attach to host-tissue surfaces may be a consequence, in part, of low levels of expression of laminin, type IV collagen and/or type IV collagenase.