Project information
Ascites as a Source of New Biomarkers and Relevant Clinical Models for the Optimization of Ovarian Cancer Therapy

Ovarian carcinoma (OC) is one of the most aggressive gynecological diseases, characterized by high mortality, mainly due to late diagnosis and frequent resistance to therapy. Ascitic fluid represents an important, yet underutilized source of information about the biology of the tumor and its microenvironment. This project focuses on the comprehensive use of ascites for 1) the isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are promising carriers of biomarkers, and for the 2) preparation of organoid models that will allow personalized testing of responses to systemic treatment.
The project will analyze the proteomic profiles of EVs isolated from ascitic fluid of OC patients and validate candidate biomarkers with prognostic potential, which were identified in a proof-of-principle study, as well as identify and validate new biomarkers with predictive potential. At the same time, organoids will be created from ascitic tumor cells, which will serve as personalized models for testing therapeutics and optimizing treatment. This approach may lead to better stratification of patients at the time of diagnosis and contribute to the individualization of OC treatment.