Ascites modulates cancer cell behavior, contributing to tumor heterogeneity in ovarian cancer.
Malignant ascites constitute a unique tumor microenvironment providing a physical structure for the accumulation of cellular and acellular components. Ascites is initiated and maintained by physical and biological factors resulting from underlying disease and forms an ecosystem that contributes to disease progression. It has been demonstrated that the cellular contents and the molecular signatures of ascites change continuously during the course of a disease. Over the past decade, increasing attention has been given to the characterization of components of ascites and their role in the progression of ovarian cancer, the most malignant gynecologic cancer in women. This review will discuss the role of ascites in disease progression, in terms of modulating cancer cell behavior and contributing to tumor heterogeneity.
Interdisciplinary Program in Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Soochi
S
Kim
Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.|Nano System Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Boyun
B
Kim
Interdisciplinary Program in Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. yssong@snu.ac.kr.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. yssong@snu.ac.kr.|Biomodulation, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. yssong@snu.ac.kr.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. yssong@snu.ac.kr.
Yong Sang
YS
Song
D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002450:Cell Communication; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011379:Prognosis; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
Ascites; ovarian cancer; tumor heterogeneity