Models of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most lethal cancers affecting women. By 2040, the World Health Organization’s Global Cancer Observatory named GLOBOCAN predicts a concerning increase in cases and deaths due to OC, estimated at 35%–50%. The severity of OC is largely attributed to its poor early-stage diagnosis, complex pathology, and aggressive metastatic potential. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying its metastasis, as well as the various models systematically used by researchers for therapeutic development and clinical translation. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of various OC models relevant to metastasis, including the three-dimensional (3D) spheroid suspension culture model, innovative 3D culture models such as tissue engineering scaffolds, microfluidic (dynamic) culture systems, organ-on-chip models, genetically engineered mouse models, and computational modeling. Comprehension of these models would surely play a crucial role in studying ovarian cancer dynamics and developing novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate OC metastasis.