Figure 1.

In vitro three-dimensional spheroid model system of ovarian cancer metastasis. (a) Ovarian cancer cells are grown as adherent proliferating monolayer cultures, and are transferred to Ultra-Low Attachment tissue culture plastic-ware where they naturally form multicellular aggregates, or spheroids, when in suspension culture. Spheroids are subsequently transferred back to standard tissue culture plastic to facilitate adhesion and growth of cells out of viable spheroids. (b) Phase contrast images of ovarian cancer cells in each of the culture conditions outlined in panel a. (c) Left: Phase contrast microscopic image of freshly-collected ovarian cancer patient ascites indicating the presence of spheroids in suspension. Right: Image representing ovarian tumor nodules implanted on the peritoneal wall of an ovarian cancer patient at the time of laparoscopic surgery.