Exploring the evolution of ovarian cancer across spatiotemporal heterogeneity: from theoretical frameworks to clinical translation

Ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death among gynecological cancers. Despite recent advances in targeted therapies, over 70% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer experience a relapse. A comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of ovarian cancer, particularly regarding the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the tumor, is essential for developing innovative, patient-specific treatment approaches to achieve durable remissions.

To enable progress in this direction, a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of a clinically well-characterized cohort of ovarian cancer patients as part of an interdisciplinary research project will be conducted. The aim is to identify relapse-inducing tumor clones and their potential therapeutic targets in order to lay foundations for the future development of new treatment approaches.

To realize this, whole exome analyses to analyze the spatial spread of ovarian cancer development at the genomic level using anatomically mapped primary and metastatic tumor biopsies from each patient will be performed. These genomic data will be used to reconstruct the clonal architecture of each patient's tumor taking into account its spatial heterogeneity and to identify specific mutation patterns of individual clones. These mutation patterns will be used to investigate the temporal dimension of ovarian cancer development from initial diagnosis to recurrence using longitudinal blood samples. This approach enables a retrospective analysis of the temporal evolution of specific clones and their contribution to the recurrence process. Likewise, associated potential therapeutic targets of recurrence-inducing clones will be identified within the evolutionary context. This innovative approach can lay important foundations for the future development of evolution-guided tailored treatment strategies for ovarian cancer patients.

Deutsche Krebshilfe © M. Seifert

Involved scientists from IMB

  • PD Dr. Michael Seifert (Co-Coordinator)
  • expected M.Sc. Chenhao Wu

Cooperation partners

  • Prof. Dr. Jan Dominik Kuhlmann (Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Laboratory for Translational Gynecological Oncology, UKDD, Coordinator)

Funding

  • German Cancer Aid Foundation, 04/2026 – 03/2029

Further information

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Evgeniia Kulle
Last modified: Aug 25, 2026