FTSEC transformation that incorporate common somatic genetic alterations characteristic of HGSOC or even recently discovered Erlotinib susceptibility alleles that confer low risk of EOC in the general population will be vital tools in answering some of the key questions regarding EOC initiation and development. Conclusion In conclusion we have developed a novel 3D in vitro culture model of fallopian tube secretory cells that rep resent a precursor tissue of high grade serous ovarian cancer. The greatest potential clinical use for these models is likely to come from molecular and phenotypic studies of the initiation and early stage development of ovarian cancer leading to the discovery of novel bio markers for early stage disease detection.

These models may also have applications beyond the study of ovarian carcinogenesis, for example for studying the interactions between the fallopian tube epithelium and oocytes or zy gotes. Co culture of fallopian tube epithelial cells has been shown to promote the in vitro development of em bryos. In future, novel 3D co culture methodologies, in which glycoprotein secretion is enhanced, may improve in vitro embryogenesis. Models of benign fallopian tube diseases that are commonly associated with female infer tility, such as salpingitis and pelvic inflammatory disease, are also few in number, but the models we describe here could be used to mimic such conditions in vitro and help to improve their diagnosis and treatment.

Ultim ately, it is hoped that these models will lead to much needed insights into the biology and pathogenesis of fal lopian secretory epithelial cells and that this knowledge with be invaluable in increasing our ability to diagnose and treat benign and malignant disease arising in the fal lopian tubes. Methods Tissue collection and cell culture Patients scheduled to undergo surgical procedures for benign gynecological conditions or total abdominal hysterectomies for endomet rial cancer provided informed written consent, prior to surgery, agreeing to participate in the study. This study was performed with permission of the UCL Institutional Ethics Committee. Fallopian tubes were inspected by the operating surgeon and a gynecological pathologist and confirmed to be free of malignancy. The distal ampul lary region of the fallopian tube was isolated and dissected open to reveal the lumen.

Epithelial cells were harvested by gentle brushing with a sterile cytobrush. All FTSEC cell cultures were maintained in MCDB105,Medium 199 supplemented with 15% fetal bovine Cilengitide serum, 10 ng ml epidermal growth factor, 0. 5 mg ml hydrocortisone, 5 mg ml insulin, and 34 mg protein ml bovine pituitary extract, For growth curves 1 �� 105 cells were plated in triplicate. Cultures selleck chemicals were passaged and population dou blings calculated using the following formula, PD log log2. For analysis of cellular karyotype, cells were taken at a low passage and seeded at low density in a 25 cm2 flask. The karyotypes were analysed by a certified clin