The present study shows that in cells derived from the rat ovarian surface epithelium (i.e. ROSE-179 cells) the adhesion protein, N-cadherin, binds to the receptor for fibroblast growth factor (FGF). This interaction likely accounts for the ability of the N-cadherin antibody to decrease the activation (i.e. tyrosine phosphorylation) of the FGF receptor and induce apoptosis. The loss of N-cadherin-mediated cell contact also results in the accumulation of beta-catenin within the nucleus. Since beta-catenin also functions as a transcription factor, nuclear beta-catenin may promote mRNA synthesis that is required for ROSE-179 cells to undergo apoptosis in response to serum/calcium withdrawal. This hypothesis requires further testing and validation.