Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, ascites samples, FFPE tissue blocks with matched cryogenically preserved sera (serum), plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) biofluid samples from patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
The sera (serum), plasma and PBMC biofluid specimens are processed from ovarian cancer patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
The ovarian cancer sera (serum), plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) biofluids are processed from patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Ascites Overview
Ascites is the medical term for a build-up of fluid in the abdomen. Many women with advance ovarian cancer have ascites.
Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. It can happen in the advanced stages of ovarian cancer. Draining excess fluid from the abdomen can help relieve symptoms of ascites.
If cancer cells spread to the abdomen, they can irritate the lining and cause excess fluid to build up. Cancer cells may also affect the lymphatic system, which can prevent fluid from draining properly from the abdomen.
There are number of reasons why ascites can develop. For example, when cancer cells spread to the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum), they can irritate it and cause fluid to build up. Also, cancer can block part of the lymphatic system so fluid can’t drain out of the abdomen as usual.
The swelling caused by the build-up of fluid can be uncomfortable. Patients may have other symptoms such as the following:
- Constipation
- Feeling sick
- Indigestion
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
Ovarian cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, can help reduce the build-up of fluid. Or your doctor may drain off some of the fluid to help relieve symptoms.
What is Ascites?
Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. The abdomen has a lining called the peritoneum. The peritoneum consists of two layers, one to protect the inner organs, such as the pancreas and liver, and one to line the abdominal wall.
The layers of the peritoneum excrete a small amount of fluid to allow the organs to move smoothly within the abdomen. If a condition causes an increase in fluid in the abdomen, fluid can build up between the two layers of the peritoneum.
This buildup of fluid can put pressure on surrounding organs and cause the abdomen to swell. Patients may experience discomfort or a feeling of tightness or fullness in the abdomen as a result.
Ascites can occur in the advanced stages of ovarian cancer. According to older research from 2013, ascites was present in 90.1% of study participants with stage 3 ovarian cancer and 100% of those with stage 4 ovarian cancer.
The type of ovarian cancer can also depend on who may develop ovarian ascites. For example, a retrospective analysis found that ascites is most likely to occur in high-grade serous papillary ovarian cancer.
Causes of Ascites
According to Cancer Research UK, a charity based in the United Kingdom, ascites in ovarian cancer may form when cancer cells spread to the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen. The cancer cells can irritate the lining, causing fluid to build up.
Cancer can also block lymph nodes, which are part of the lymphatic system, in the abdomen. This prevents fluid draining away from the abdomen properly.
If cancer has spread to the liver, it can increase the pressure in surrounding blood vessels, forcing fluid out.
Signs and Symptoms of Ascites
Symptoms of ascites may develop within a few days to over the course of a few weeks and may include:
- A feeling of fullness, heaviness, or tightness in the abdomen
- Back pain
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Clothes feeling tighter around the abdomen
- Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
- Fatigue
- Finding it difficult to sit comfortably or move around
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Hemorrhoids
- Indigestion
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the lower legs
- Vomiting
- Weight gain
Diagnosis of Ascites
To diagnose ascites, a doctor will assess symptoms and carry out a physical exam.
They may also carry out the following tests:
- Fluid sample: A doctor will use a needle to take a sample of fluid from the abdomen, which they can check for any signs of cancer or infection.
- Imaging tests: A doctor may use ultrasound, MRI or CT scans to get images of the inside of the abdomen.
- Blood tests: A doctor may use blood tests to check the function of the liver and kidneys and to assess overall health.
Treatment of Ascites
According to a research study the primary treatment for ovarian ascites is treating the underlying cause, which is the cancer.
Chemotherapy or hormone therapy can help to shrink cancer cells or prevent them from spreading. In some patients, this might help to treat ascites.
Additionally, doctors may use a procedure called paracentesis, which uses a tube to drain the fluid. This can provide temporary relief that can last for a few days or weeks. The fluid often returns, so the patient may need ongoing treatment.
Patients usually undergo paracentesis as an outpatient treatment.
A doctor will apply a local anesthetic to the abdomen before making a small cut. They will then insert a small tube into the abdomen to drain excess fluid into a drainage bag.
A doctor may use an ultrasound to direct the tube to the right area.
If the patients experience any pain or discomfort during the procedure, a doctor can provide them with pain relief medication.
Patients may also require a long-term drain, which is a tube, or catheter, that a doctor inserts into the abdomen. The catheter stays in place after fluid has drained away, and a dressing covers it when not in use.
When patients need to drain fluid again, a drainage bag attaches to the catheter to drain any fluid buildup. A healthcare professional will provide instructions on how to properly use and care for a catheter.
Medication
Ascites can continue to develop despite treatment with chemotherapy and pancreatitis. In these cases, a doctor may prescribe additional treatments to alleviate the ascites and its symptoms.
These include the following:
- Diuretics: These are medicines that can help patients urinate more frequently, which can help prevent excess fluid from building up.
- Angiogenesis inhibitors: These are medications to stop the growth of new blood vessels, which is essential for the development of a tumor.
- Immunologic agents: These are medications to modify a patient’s immune response.
Other Management Tips
To help manage ascites, Johns Hopkins notes that people may need to:
- Avoid drinking alcohol
- Cut down salt intake by following a low-sodium diet
- Reduce the number of fluids they drink
- Maintain moderate weight
- Avoid excess potassium, as patients may be taking medication for ascites that can increase potassium levels
- Quit smoking
Outlook of Ascites
Although there is currently no cure for ascites, treating and managing the condition can help to prevent complications.
Draining excess fluid from the abdomen effectively relieves symptoms in 90% of cases.
However, research from 2020 suggests that a higher frequency and volume of ascites may:
- Increase the risk of cancer cells spreading
- Decrease how effectively surgeons can remove tumors
- Increase resistance to chemotherapy
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.
Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.
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This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.
Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.
Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.
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Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.
Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:
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