Morpho-metabolic fingerprinting of ovarian cancer

Cancer is one of the great burdens of humanity. Despite intensive research efforts, many questions remain unsolved, and numerous types of cancer are virtually incurable. Among others, ovarian cancer is still a plague for thousands of women worldwide. The disease often develops with little or no symptoms in the early stages. By the time it is detected, it may already be too late, leaving only room for very aggressive chemotherapy and surgery, whose efficacy is often limited. In addition to educational campaigns and increased awareness among women, research can also make a big difference. In our project, we decided to look at ovarian cancer cell development from an entirely new angle. We believe that "out of the box" thinking and novel approaches are needed to overcome current limitations. Rather than focusing on the biochemical environment of the tumor, we propose to focus on other features of the environment that can potentially contribute to shaping cell function. Because ovarian cancer spreads and develops in the abdomen, interacting with internal organ motility and fluids, we have asked ourselves whether these triggers can contribute to ovarian cancer cell development. Indeed, innovative research approaches suggest that physical stimuli, triggered both by cell movement and by cell ability to respond to the movement of surrounding tissues, could induce cellular adaptation. This can ultimately influence cell function or the response to pharmacological treatment. For example, crucial aspects of metabolism may be regulated by changes in cell shape and movement. Thus, it is clear that cells that grow almost without boundaries, like tumor cells, must be confronted with different physical stimuli, such as the softness/rigidity of the different tissues with which they come into contact or the turbulence of the bloodstream or the movements of the abdominal cavity. Building on this, our central hypothesis is based on the concept that the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer can be related to the biophysical environment in the abdominal cavity in which the cells develop. In our project, we propose to systematically investigate this hypothesis and examine how these aspects may contribute to the resistance of cancer cells against medications. We hope these findings will serve as a starting point for developing new therapeutic approaches that target ovarian cancer cells more efficiently and selectively.