The overall objective of this project is to create clinically-relevant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive ovarian cancers.

It is well recognized that several types of ovarian cancer, namely low-grade serous (LGSOC), endometrioid (ENOC) and high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSOC), are uniquely characterized by hormone receptor expression. As with breast cancer, ER expression has been measured as a biomarker to select patients for anti-estrogen therapy (AET). While some patients with OC derive remarkable benefit from AET, ER expression alone does not perform very well as a predictive biomarker for AET treatment response.

With the support of Ovarian Cancer Canada, we have developed a short-term LGSOC xenograft assay to describe ER signaling and response to AET. The objective of the current project is to develop long-term (serially implantable) and shareable ER-positive ovarian cancer PDX models including LGSOC, ENOC, and HGSOC to stimulate future research. These models will also help identify the needed biomarkers to improve precision medicine and patient outcomes for hormone-expressing OC.