Treating ovarian cancer is often difficult because many tumors become resistant to chemotherapy. When this happens, the usual drugs stop working, leaving patients with fewer treatment options and worse outcomes. Detecting drug resistance early would allow doctors to adjust treatments right away, but there are currently no clinical methods available to predict chemotherapy resistance.

Dr. Kuss and her team are developing a new, faster, and affordable way to identify drug resistance using electrochemistry, a technique that measures how molecules move and react. They have already shown that this approach can tell the difference between ovarian cancer cells that respond to chemotherapy and those that are resistant. In this project, they will expand their work in three major ways:

• They will test their method on cells taken directly from ovarian cancer patients, allowing them to observe drug resistant cells as they develop. Studies will also establish a library of chemotherapeutic agents for which this method can reliably detect resistance.
• They will analyze ascites directly from patients, without complicated preparation, bringing them closer to real-world clinical use.
• They will develop a portable device that can quickly test patient samples in a healthcare (diagnostic) setting, making the technology accessible and practical for routine care.

The novel method in this study works by measuring a natural molecule called glutathione, which plays an important role in how cells respond to chemotherapy. By detecting changes in glutathione released by cancer cells, the team can determine whether a patient’s tumor is likely to resist treatment.

Ultimately, this research aims to create a simple, rapid, and cost-effective tool that helps doctors personalize treatment for ovarian cancer, improving care and giving patients a better chance at successful outcomes.