Malignant Ascites in Ovarian Cancer: Cellular, Acellular, and Biophysical Determinants of Molecular Characteristics and Therapy Response

Brittany P. Rickard; Christina Conrad; Aaron J. Sorrin; Mustafa Kemal Ruhi; Jocelyn C. Reader; Stephanie A. Huang; Walfre Franco; Giuliano Scarcelli; William J. Polacheck; Dana M. Roque; Marcela G. del Carmen; Huang-Chiao Huang; Utkan Demirci; Imran Rizvi

doi:10.3390/cancers13174318

Cancers (Aug 2021)

Malignant Ascites in Ovarian Cancer: Cellular, Acellular, and Biophysical Determinants of Molecular Characteristics and Therapy Response

Brittany P. Rickard,
Christina Conrad,
Aaron J. Sorrin,
Mustafa Kemal Ruhi,
Jocelyn C. Reader,
Stephanie A. Huang,
Walfre Franco,
Giuliano Scarcelli,
William J. Polacheck,
Dana M. Roque,
Marcela G. del Carmen,
Huang-Chiao Huang,
Utkan Demirci,
Imran Rizvi

Affiliations

Brittany P. Rickard: Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Christina Conrad: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Aaron J. Sorrin: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Mustafa Kemal Ruhi: Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
Jocelyn C. Reader: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Stephanie A. Huang: Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
Walfre Franco: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
Giuliano Scarcelli: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
William J. Polacheck: Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
Dana M. Roque: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Marcela G. del Carmen: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Huang-Chiao Huang: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Utkan Demirci: Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratory, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Imran Rizvi: Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13174318
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 17
p. 4318

Abstract

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Ascites refers to the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum resulting from an underlying pathology, such as metastatic cancer. Among all cancers, advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer is most frequently associated with the production of malignant ascites and is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies. Despite decades of evidence showing that the accumulation of peritoneal fluid portends the poorest outcomes for cancer patients, the role of malignant ascites in promoting metastasis and therapy resistance remains poorly understood. This review summarizes the current understanding of malignant ascites, with a focus on ovarian cancer. The first section provides an overview of heterogeneity in ovarian cancer and the pathophysiology of malignant ascites. Next, analytical methods used to characterize the cellular and acellular components of malignant ascites, as well the role of these components in modulating cell biology, are discussed. The review then provides a perspective on the pressures and forces that tumors are subjected to in the presence of malignant ascites and the impact of physical stress on therapy resistance. Treatment options for malignant ascites, including surgical, pharmacological and photochemical interventions are then discussed to highlight challenges and opportunities at the interface of drug discovery, device development and physical sciences in oncology.

Published in Cancers

ISSN: 2072-6694 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/

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