Modeling High-Grade Serous Carcinoma: How Converging Insights into Pathogenesis and Genetics are Driving Better Experimental Platforms

Paul Michael Jones,Ronny Drapkin

doi:10.3389/fonc.2013.00217

Abstract

Recent developments in the study of epithelial ovarian cancer have called into question the traditional views regarding the site of tumor initiation. Histopathologic studies and genomic analyses suggest that extra-ovarian sites, like the fallopian tube, may harbor the coveted cell of origin and could therefore contribute significantly to the development of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HG-SOC). Our ability to validate these emerging genomic and pathologic observations and characterize the early transformation events of HG-SOC hinges on the development of novel model systems. Currently, there are only a handful of new model systems that are addressing these concerns. This review will chronicle the convergent evolution of these ovarian cancer model systems in the context of the changing pathologic and genomic understanding of HG-SOC.

Highlights

In 2013, the American Cancer Society estimates that 22,240 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer and that 14,030 women will die from this disease, making ovarian cancer the most lethal gynecological malignancy in the United States [1]
This review will highlight the recent advancements in ovarian cancer genetics and pathology, and explore the past and present model systems employed to study high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HG-SOC)
Because the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) studies the advanced state of HG-SOC, determining whether these genes are important to transformation, or instead are related to tumor maintenance, immune evasion, anti-apoptosis, and/or chemoresistance, requires further investigation

Summary

Paul Michael Jones and Ronny Drapkin*

Reviewed by: Hannah Yang, National Cancer Institute, USA Amir Jazaeri, University of Virginia, USA. Recent developments in the study of epithelial ovarian cancer have called into question the traditional views regarding the site of tumor initiation. Histopathologic studies and genomic analyses suggest that extra-ovarian sites, like the fallopian tube, may harbor the coveted cell of origin and could contribute significantly to the development of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HG-SOC). Our ability to validate these emerging genomic and pathologic observations and characterize the early transformation events of HG-SOC hinges on the development of novel model systems. There are only a handful of new model systems that are addressing these concerns. This review will chronicle the convergent evolution of these ovarian cancer model systems in the context of the changing pathologic and genomic understanding of HG-SOC

INTRODUCTION

Experimental models in ovarian cancer

CONCLUSION