The study team has previously shown that virtually all cases of high-grade serous cancers of the ovary and fallopian tube share a specific genetic flaw called chromosomal instability (CIN).

In a healthy body, cells carry two copies of every chromosome to ensure they grow and divide correctly. In cells with CIN, this balance is lost. Cells begins to gain or lose whole chromosomes or parts of chromosomes every time they divide. This genetic “chaos” allows cancer cells to grow uncontrollably and often makes them resistant to standard chemotherapy treatments.

To better understand this process, we need to study it inside a living system. Currently, there are no animal models that allow us to see how CIN affects ovarian cancer as it develops. The research team aims to bridge this gap by creating new mouse models using donated patient tumor samples and genetically engineered mice with changes to genes that are known to cause CIN in cells.

These new models will provide a vital “testing ground” for researchers. By observing how CIN contributes to the earliest stages of cancer, we can find new ways to exploit this genetic flaw and develop more effective treatments for patients (similar to the use of PARP inhibitors in BRCA1/2 patients).