Laboratory Study of Cancer & Immune Cells in Ascites Fluid of Ovarian Cancer Patients to Test Alternative Therapies

May 20, 2025 updated by: New Mexico Cancer Research Alliance

Single Institution (UNM) Prospective Laboratory Study of Cancer and Immune Cells in the Ascites Fluid of Ovarian Cancer Patients to Test Alternative Therapies

Ascites samples from women undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer will be collected for use in translational research.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Ovarian Cancer

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to collect ascites fluid obtained from ovarian cancer patients during cytoreductive surgery or paracentesis at the University of New Mexico Hospital or Cancer Center. Cancer cells and immune cells from the ascites fluid will be used to test novel immunotherapies for ovarian cancer treatment and to establish patient derived xenograft models to perform preclinical testing on a cancer cell population that better models the heterogeneity in patient disease

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Name: Amy Overby
Phone Number: 505-272-5557
Email: Aoverby1@salud.unm.edu

Study Contact Backup

Name: Sarah Adams, MD
Phone Number: (505) 925-0461
Email: SAdams@salud.unm.edu

Study Locations

United States
- New Mexico
  - Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87131
    - Recruiting
    - University of New Mexico Cancer Center
    - Contact:
      
      Amy Overby
      
      Phone Number: 505-272-5557
      
      Email: Aoverby1@salud.unm.edu
    - Contact:
      
      Sharareh Sazesh, MS
      
      Email: ssazesh@salud.unm.edu
    - Principal Investigator:
      
      Sarah Adams, MD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Carolyn Muller, MD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Bridget Wilson, PhD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Laurie Hudson, PhD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Angela Wandinger-Ness, PhD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Helen Hathaway, PhD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Eric Prossnitz, PhD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Mara Steinkamp, PhD
    - Sub-Investigator:
      
      Sabrina Samudio-Ruiz, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All female participants, regardless of ethnicity, who are undergoing cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer are eligible for this study; All participants will be eighteen years old or older; Patients must be suspected of having a pathological diagnosis or clinical suspicion of ovarian cancer and be scheduled for surgery for tumor resection.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

All female participants, regardless of ethnicity, who are undergoing cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer are eligible for this study
All participants will be eighteen years old or older
Patients must be suspected of having a pathological diagnosis or clinical suspicion of ovarian cancer and be scheduled for surgery for tumor resection.
Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
Pathologic confirmation of a diagnosis of epithelial adenocarcinoma of the ovary, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer (serous, mucinous, clear cell, endometrioid, undifferentiated, mixed, transitional cell)
Women of childbearing potential must have a negative qualitative serum pregnancy test ≤ 2 weeks prior to study entry.
A female of child-bearing potential is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria:
- Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or
- Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months).

Exclusion Criteria:

We do not intend to include participants if they are unable to provide informed consent for this study themselves (e.g. mentally ill patients who require health care proxies to consent for any medical intervention), or vulnerable populations such as prisoners.
Minors under age eighteen.
Pregnant women.
Final pathologic diagnosis that does not confirm invasive epithelial ovarian, tubal, or primary peritoneal cancer

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Collect ascites fluid obtained from ovarian cancer patients during cytoreductive surgery or paracentesis Time Frame: 5 years	To elucidate the conditions of the tumor environment that contribute to cancer dissemination in the peritoneal cavity through ex vivo evaluation of malignant ascites collected from women with ovarian, tubal, or primary peritoneal cancer.	5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To correlate specific features of peritoneal cell populations or soluble factors with patient outcome. Time Frame: 5 years	To correlate specific features of peritoneal cell populations or soluble factors with patient outcome.	5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

New Mexico Cancer Research Alliance

Investigators

Principal Investigator: Sarah Adams, MD, Unm Comprehensive Cancer Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 2, 2015

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 7, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria