Innovative tools for ovarian cancer research and drug discovery

Popular human ovarian cancer cell lines 

Our collection includes some of the most widely used ovarian cancer cell lines. These feature A2780 and PEO1/4 that can induce tumours in immunocompromised mice, making them suitable for tumour modelling studies. 

• A2780 cell line are broadly used in toxicity testing and cancer genetic studies.
• PEO ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines such as PEO1 and PEO4, are from varying stages of cancer (e.g. HGSC and LGSC) and treatment, and can be used to better understand mechanisms of oestrogen action, as well as efficacy and toxicity of oestrogen protagonists.

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

Drug-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines 

To advance the understanding of molecular mechanisms driving drug resistance – a key challenge in ovarian cancer treatment – we provide human cell lines resistant to various chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin (e.g., A2780 cis cell line and PEO1-CDDP) and adriamycin (e.g., A2780 ADR cell line). Our collection includes a unique panel of six platinum-resistant cell lines that serve as in vitro and in vivo HGSC models, accurately reflecting the genetic and clinical characteristics of human EOC.  

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

Murine ovarian cancer cell lines to study tumour microenvironment 

The HGS 1-4 mouse ovarian cancer cell lines address key limitations of existing ovarian HGSC models including insufficient genetic relevance, poor representation of the TME, and limited translational predictive value. Tumours generated from these lines feature well-characterised immunological components, with innate and adaptive immune responses closely mirroring those of human HGSOC. This makes the HGS 1-4 lines ideal preclinical models for studying the ovarian TME.  

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 cell lines

To support the study of the ovarian TME in preclinical models that accurately reflect the complexity of this cancer, we provide tumour cell lines derived from various tumour sites of patients with diverse OEC subtypes, spanning various stages of treatment. These include:

• CCSP series, a set of six tumourigenic cell lines from malignant ascites—a common site of ovarian cancer cell accumulation—from patients with clear cell adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive OEC subtype,  
• 14 OV cell lines from ascites of OEC patients primarily with high-grade serous carcinoma,  
• 18 TOV cell lines from the ovary, endometrium, and fallopian tubes of OEC patients with various 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.

Plasmax™: a physiologically relevant cell culture medium 

Plasmax^TM is a defined cell culture medium that provides a physiologically relevant environment by mirroring the concentration of over 50 components found in human plasma. This media has been used to successfully culture human cancer cell lines, recapitulating the tumour metabolic environment.  

Popular human ovarian cancer cell lines

We offer a range of widely used ovarian cancer cell lines, including: A2780, PEO1, and PEO4. These lines are recognised as standard models for testing therapeutic targets and compounds in ovarian cancer research, thereby supporting new drug discovery. 

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

Patient-derived ovarian cancer lines and cell cultures  

Our patient-derived ovarian cancer cell lines retain key characteristics and biomarkers of the original tumours, providing invaluable models for studying the complexity of ovarian cancer  and testing therapies across subtypes. 

The unique OCM series includes highly purified tumour fractions with extensive proliferative potential that can be analysed at early passage. These HGSOC models preserve the molecular features of the original tumours, are clinically annotated, and characterised in public datasets like multi-omics and single-cell karyotyping. OCM cultures enable drug-sensitivity profiling of tumour cells without extensive culture or genetic drift, and can generate PDX models for in vivo studies of new therapies. 

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.

Drug-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines 

Our drug-resistant human cell lines provide valuable tools for identifying predictive biomarkers, uncovering resistance mechanisms, and advancing drug discovery.

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

Murine ovarian cancer cell lines to study tumour microenvironment

The HGS 1-4 murine cell lines offer an improved preclinical model for assessing immune and other biological therapies for HGSC. These lines can also help identify sub-groups of ovarian cancer patients who are most likely to benefit from a specific treatment.

Patient-derived organoid (PDO) models

A panel of 10 ovarian cancer organoids derived from Japanese patients which faithfully preserve the pathology, genetic, and drug response characteristics of the in vivo source patient tumours. These complex 3D in vitro models can support the accurate preclinical evaluation of ovarian cancer drugs under more clinically relevant conditions than traditional cell line models. 

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).

Image: ROVA016-3 Ovarian cancer organoid.

• DNA repair proteins associated with hereditary ovarian and breast cancer, such as PALB2, a key scaffolding protein in homologous recombination repair that forms essential complexes with BRCA1 and BRCA2,
• Hormone receptors, such as estrogen receptor β, important for understanding hormone-dependent aspects of ovarian cancer.
• Tumour-associated antigens, such as MUC1, which is overexpressed and abnormally glycosylated in late-stage epithelial ovarian cancer.