High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common and one of the most aggressive forms of ovarian cancer. Within HGSOC, the Mesenchymal and Stem-like A subtypes are often associated with more advanced disease and poorer outcomes.

ATR inhibitors are a promising class of drugs that target cancer cells under high levels of DNA replication stress. However, their use can be limited by side effects, making it important to identify which patients are most likely to benefit.

In this study led by N2CR members Assoc Prof David Tan and Asst Prof Cheok Chit Fang, researchers found that the Mesenchymal and Stem-like A subtypes showed higher levels of replication stress and greater sensitivity to ATR inhibitors.

These findings could help identify patients most likely to benefit from ATR inhibitors. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm whether this approach can improve treatment decisions and outcomes.

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