Comprehensive models for ovarian cancer research and drug discovery

PEO Series: longitudinal resistance model

A longitudinal, patient-derived model capturing spontaneous transition from BRCA mutation (PEO1) to acquired platinum resistance (PEO4, PEO6).  

These lines uniquely map the evolution of DNA repair defects and therapy response and are also used to study hormone receptor biology, such as oestrogen response. 

Image: PEO1 Cell Line. 3 days post plating. Image courtesy of the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC).

A2780-derived resistance models 

Derivatives of the A2780, parental line provide reproducible systems for studying resistance across key drug classes:

• Cisplatin: A2780cis and PEO1-CDDP — modelling platinum resistance, the most common clinical hurdle in ovarian cancer.  

• Adriamycin: A2780ADR — complementary model for anthracycline resistance. 

• Paclitaxel: A2780 PTX isogenic series (PTX4–128) — stepwise taxane resistance with graded collateral cisplatin sensitivity, distinct from platinum and anthracycline lines, enabling comparative studies.  

Image: A2780ADR Cell Line. 24 hours post plating. Image courtesy of the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC).

Platinum-resistant HGSC panel

The platinum-resistant HGSC panel was developed from well-established parental lines (OVCAR4, Ovsaho, Cov318) to model recurrence. This collection of six cisplatin- and carboplatin-resistant models provides a layered view of how tumours relapse after therapy. 

Unlike resistance caused by a single mutation, these models capture transcriptional reprogramming, including extracellular matrix pathways, consistent with patterns observed in relapsed patients (Hoare et al., 2022). 

In vivo, they display heterogeneous behaviours, ranging from aggressive regrowth with ascites to slower metastatic spread. Together, these features make the panel a complementary system to A2780 derivatives for studying how platinum resistance evolves. 

Image: Cisplatin and carboplatin resistance in ovarian cancer HGSC panel compared to parental lines. Adapted from Hoare et al. Gynecol Oncol, 2022. 

A2780: a foundational ovarian cancer line

One of the most widely used ovarian cancer cell lines, A2780, is a cornerstone for toxicity testing and cancer genetics research.  

It can induce tumours in immunocompromised mice, making it a reliable in vivo model as well as a critical reference for its many resistant derivatives.

Image: A2780 Cell Line. 48 hours post plating. Image courtesy of the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC).

Murine HGSC models to investigate tumour–immune interactions

Developed in immunocompetent mouse models HGS 1-4 recreate many hallmarks of human high-grade serous ovarian cancer, from genetic drivers to metastatic spread.  

Used in vivo, they provide a rare opportunity to investigate tumour–immune interactions and therapy response in a biologically relevant setting.

Image: Adapted from Maniati et al. 2020, Figure 1B. Tissue sections derived from normal omenta (Bl60me and FVBOme) and mouse model tumours (HGS1, HGS2, HGS3 and HGS4) stained with haematoxylin and eosin (scale bar, 100 μm).

Patient-derived ovarian cancer lines

Capturing the complexity of the tumour microenvironment is essential for preclinical models of ovarian cancer. Our patient-derived collections reflect this diversity, spanning different tumour sites, histotypes, and treatment stages while retaining the molecular characteristics of the original disease. 

• CCSP series (6 lines): tumourigenic cell lines derived from malignant ascites in patients with clear cell adenocarcinoma, providing a rare and aggressive OEC subtype for modelling 
• OV cell lines (14 lines): ascites-derived models representing primarily high-grade serous carcinoma 
• TOV cell lines (18 lines): derived from ovary, endometrium, and fallopian tube tumours, capturing the spectrum of EOC histotypes

Image: Figure from Tzukerman et al., 2009 (PMID 1998034). Fig. 2. In vitro chacterisation of the different CCSP’s and detection of ovarian cancer-associated biomarkers. A, phenotypic appearance of the six isolated CCSPs.

OCM series: patient tumour fractions 

The OCM series represents highly purified HGSOC tumour fractions with strong proliferative potential, analysed at early passage to minimise culture drift.  

These models preserve the molecular features of the original tumours, are clinically annotated, and are included in public datasets such as multi-omics and single-cell karyotyping.  

OCM cultures enable reliable drug-sensitivity studies of tumour cells without extensive passaging or genetic drift and can also generate PDX models for in vivo evaluation of new therapies.