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Recruiting NCT06272240

Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer

— Observational Ovarian Cancer Stage III Ovarian Cancer Stage IV

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Ovarian Cancer Organoids.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Ovarian Cancer Stage III, Ovarian Cancer Stage IV. Basic parameters: 18 years — 80 years · Female.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Italy
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →

Official title

Study of the Role of the Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer

Overview

A detailed understanding of molecular mechanism of cancer genesis is fundamental to develop innovative and personalized therapies. The new frontier in biomedical research is represented by organoids, a three-dimensional cell culture system obtained from a tissue fragment that accurately reproduces the essential properties of the original tissue in vitro, which could provide a valuable model for explanation of ovarian cancers pathogenesis and will allow to predict the response to a specific therapy. With this research project, we expect to generate ovarian cancer organoids to characterize in vitro interactions and molecular pathway among tumor cells, immune cells, and resident microbiota (intratumoral bacteria and/or microbial-derived molecules).

Detailed description

Background Proved the importance of microenviroment in the onset and progression of ovarian cancer, a detailed understanding of molecular mechanism of cancer genesis is fundamental to develop innovative and personalized therapies.

Primary Objective The new frontier in biomedical research is represented by organoids, a three-dimensional cell culture system obtained from a tissue fragment that accurately reproduces the essential properties of the original tissue in vitro, which could provide a valuable model for explanation of ovarian cancers pathogenesis and will allow to predict the response to a specific therapy.

Study Hypothesis To generate of ovarian cancer organoids to characterize in vitro interactions and molecular pathway among tumor cells, immune cells, and resident microbiota (intratumoral bacteria and/or microbial-derived molecules).

Trial Design Patients with primary diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) (stage III and IV according to FIGO) referred to the Obstetrics-Gynecology Department of ASUFC for surgical removal will be selected. It is expected that organoids will be cultured from 50 patients over the course of 3 years, obtained by removed tissue from which pathologist will collect a fragment of tumor tissue and one from adjacent normal tissue (as a healthy control). From tumor tissue they will extract three different fragments: one for the identification of cells composing the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) (through single-cell analysis), one for microbiome analysis, and one for organoid generation to be conducted at the laboratories of the Department of Medical Area.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Patients with a diagnosis of EOC will be considered eligible if they meet these criteria: Age: 18 years - 80 years, serous ovarian carcinoma and FIGO Stage III/IV EOC. They will be excluded in case of ongoing or suspended immunosuppressive therapy within the last 6 months, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, immunosuppressive state, administration of chemotherapy for another neoplasm in the past 12 months, non-epithelial ovarian tumors, patients not undergoing surgical intervention, BMI higher than 30, absence of Informed Consent.

Primary Endpoint With this research project, we expect to understand if it is also possible to stratify ovarian cancer patients based on the activation of AhR in cells of the Tumor Microenvironment (TME), including tumor cells and immune cells.

Interventions

  • Other Ovarian Cancer Organoids
    To characterize in vitro interactions and molecular pathway among tumor cells, immune cells, and resident microbiota (intratumoral bacteria and/or microbial-derived molecules)

Primary outcome measures

  • • Composition of the tumor microenvironment (including the immune system and intratumoral microbiota). • Generate organoids [Time frame: from enrollment to the end of follow up at 36 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Age > 18 years
  • Age < 80 years
  • Serous ovarian carcinoma
  • FIGO Stage III-IV

Exclusion criteria

  • Ongoing or suspended immunosuppressive therapy within the last 6 months
  • Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency
  • Immunosuppressive state
  • Administration of chemotherapy for another neoplasm in the past 12 months
  • Non-epithelial ovarian tumors
  • Patients not undergoing surgical intervention
  • BMI > 30
  • Absence of Informed Consent

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Observational model
Case-only

Study locations

Italy · 1 center
  • Università degli Studi di Udine — Udine

Publications

  • Nejman D, Livyatan I, Fuks G, Gavert N, Zwang Y, Geller LT, Rotter-Maskowitz A, Weiser R, Mallel G, Gigi E, Meltser A, Douglas GM, Kamer I, Gopalakrishnan V, Dadosh T, Levin-Zaidman S, Avnet S, Atlan T, Cooper ZA, Arora R, Cogdill AP, Khan MAW, Ologun G, Bussi Y, Weinberger A, Lotan-Pompan M, Golani O, Perry G, Rokah M, Bahar-Shany K, Rozeman EA, Blank CU, Ronai A, Shaoul R, Amit A, Dorfman T, Kre PMID 32467386
  • Banerjee S, Tian T, Wei Z, Shih N, Feldman MD, Alwine JC, Coukos G, Robertson ES. The ovarian cancer oncobiome. Oncotarget. 2017 May 30;8(22):36225-36245. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.16717. PMID 28410234
  • Yang J, Huang S, Cheng S, Jin Y, Zhang N, Wang Y. Application of Ovarian Cancer Organoids in Precision Medicine: Key Challenges and Current Opportunities. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Aug 2;9:701429. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.701429. eCollection 2021. PMID 34409036
  • Ranhotra HS, Flannigan KL, Brave M, Mukherjee S, Lukin DJ, Hirota SA, Mani S. Xenobiotic Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Intestinal Barrier Function and Innate Immunity. Nucl Receptor Res. 2016;3:101199. doi: 10.11131/2016/101199. PMID 27942535
  • Hezaveh K, Shinde RS, Klotgen A, Halaby MJ, Lamorte S, Ciudad MT, Quevedo R, Neufeld L, Liu ZQ, Jin R, Grunwald BT, Foerster EG, Chaharlangi D, Guo M, Makhijani P, Zhang X, Pugh TJ, Pinto DM, Co IL, McGuigan AP, Jang GH, Khokha R, Ohashi PS, O'Kane GM, Gallinger S, Navarre WW, Maughan H, Philpott DJ, Brooks DG, McGaha TL. Tryptophan-derived microbial metabolites activate the aryl hydrocarbon recep PMID 35139353
  • Tuveson D, Clevers H. Cancer modeling meets human organoid technology. Science. 2019 Jun 7;364(6444):952-955. doi: 10.1126/science.aaw6985. PMID 31171691
  • Ricci F, Bizzaro F, Cesca M, Guffanti F, Ganzinelli M, Decio A, Ghilardi C, Perego P, Fruscio R, Buda A, Milani R, Ostano P, Chiorino G, Bani MR, Damia G, Giavazzi R. Patient-derived ovarian tumor xenografts recapitulate human clinicopathology and genetic alterations. Cancer Res. 2014 Dec 1;74(23):6980-90. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-0274. Epub 2014 Oct 10. PMID 25304260
  • Arcieri M, Capezzali E, Restaino S, Pregnolato S, Mariuzzi L, Mangogna A, Orsaria M, Tulisso A, Tonon S, De Martino M, Isola M, Driul L, Pucillo C, Scambia G, Frossi B, Vizzielli G. Study of the Role of the Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer (MICO): A Prospective Monocentric Trial. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2025 Jun;8(6):e70242. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.70242. PMID 40464605

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06272240 · 17380

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗