Chapter 6 - Models of ovarian cancer to test new agents

Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Research over the past several decades has shown that ovarian cancer is a complex and heterogeneous group of cancers that exhibit different disease biology, often present at advanced stage and are clinically challenging to manage. Preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate the histopathology, genetics, tissue origin, and heterogeneity of these cancers are needed to guide development of strategies for prevention and early detection, and to identify novel agents and targeted and combination therapies to improve patient outcomes. Advances in our understanding of the histopathology and genetics of ovarian cancer subtypes, as well as the cellular origins of these cancers, have had a tremendous impact on the numbers and types of model systems available to study disease development and progression and response to therapy. In this chapter, we discuss the wide array of preclinical models that are used to better understand ovarian cancer development and progression and to identify new therapeutic strategies. Models discussed include cell culture-based models, organoids, and animal models, including xenograft, syngeneic, genetically engineered mouse and hen models, with a focus on model utility, strengths, challenges, limitations, and improvements. The availability and continued improvement of ovarian cancer models will undoubtedly improve prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies for ovarian cancer.