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Review
. 2016 Sep;107(9):1173-8.
doi: 10.1111/cas.12987. Epub 2016 Aug 16.

Ascites modulates cancer cell behavior, contributing to tumor heterogeneity in ovarian cancer

Soochi Kim  1   2 , Boyun Kim  2   3 , Yong Sang Song  4   5   6   7
Affiliations
Review

Ascites modulates cancer cell behavior, contributing to tumor heterogeneity in ovarian cancer

Soochi Kim et al. Cancer Sci. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Ascites; ovarian cancer; tumor heterogeneity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of cellular and acellular components of ascites. Ascites is composed of both tumor cells present either as single cells or as spheroids and stromal cells, including fibroblasts, mesothelial cells, adipose tissue derived stromal cells (ASC/MSC), endothelial cells, adipocytes and inflammatory cells. These cellular components communicate with each other through acellular factors, including cytokines, proteins, metabolites and exosomes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic overview of the signaling interactions during malignant progression in ascites. The arrows in bold indicate which acellular components are used to communicate between cellular components. Unknown communications are indicated with a dashed arrow. See text for description of individual components and their functional contributions in ovarian cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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