Characterization of Ovarian Cancer Stem Cell

Specific aims: Identification and characterization of cancer stem cell-like population (cancer stem cells or cancer initiating cells) from primary tumor tissue, primary ascites and peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients and genetically engineered mouse ovarian cancer cell lines. Objectives: In the future, individualized therapy must incorporate analysis of the cancer stem cells or cancer initiating cells of ovarian cancer cells when designing therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer patients. Aims of this project: 1. Isolation and identification of cancer stem cell-like population (cancer stem cells or cancer initiating cells) from primary tumor tissue, primary ascites and peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients 2. In vivo tumorigenicity assay will be performed to measure tumor formation from these cancer stem cell-like population when equal numbers were injected into the dorsal fat pad of nude mice. 3. To establish a standard protocol of stem cell-like population maintenance 4. Screening of potential specific biomarkers involved in these ovarian cancer stem cell-like population.