News Release

Research Article Cites Cleanascite™ In Study of Lipid-driven Influences in Metastatic Ovarian Cancer

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ, May 13, 2025 -- Biotech Support Group reports on an article, describing the simplicity and efficiency of their lipid depletion product to study lipid influence in cell culture models of natural killer (NK) cells, from patients with High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

Slattery, Karen, et al. "Uptake of lipids from ascites drives NK cell metabolic dysfunction in ovarian cancer." Science Immunology 10.107 (2025): eadr4795.

High- grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) remains an urgent unmet clinical need, with more than 70% of patients presenting with metastatic disease. Many patients develop large volumes of ascites, which promotes metastasis and is associated with poor therapeutic response and survival. HGSOC readily metastasizes to the lipid-rich omentum, where adipocyte-derived lipids may support tumors. Understanding the impact of ascites on the immune system is critical for developing effective immunotherapies for patients with metastatic ovarian cancer. Despite the potential of natural killer (NK) cells as prospective immunotherapy targets, a better understanding of the mechanisms driving NK cell dysfunction in cancer is needed to overcome immunosuppressive factors. In this study, the research shows that uptake of polar lipids from ascites is a central driver of NK cell dysfunction. The article states: “To test whether uptake of polar lipids drives NK cell dysfunction in ascites, the investigators depleted ascites of lipids using a lipid adsorption and clarification reagent which caused widespread lipid depletion in ascites”; “Lipids were depleted from FCS and ascites samples using Cleanascite lipid removal reagent and clarification (Biotech Support Group) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”. Notably, when NK cells were cultured in lipid-depleted ascites (denoted LD- ascites), there were no changes in the NK cell metabolome; however, lipid-depleted ascites remodeled the lipidome whereby there was a reduction in intracellular polar lipids, and crucially, uptake of polar lipids was completely abolished. Depletion of lipids from ascites improved NK cell activation and boosted expression of the key receptor for glucose uptake, Glut1. When lipids were removed from FCS as well as ascites, the restoration of lipid droplet levels in NK cells was abolished (Fig. 5H). These data indicate, first, that NK cells typically take up lipids from their environment, which are used to maintain optimal lipid droplet content and, second, that this is perturbed by lipids found in ascites. The researchers next investigated NK cell antitumor functions. Depletion of lipids from the ascites restored the ability of NK cells to kill tumor cells across several time points (Fig. 5I). 

Overall, we demonstrate that excess polar lipids, including PC(36:1), are a key driver of NK cell dysfunction and suppression of cytotoxic lymphocytes, in general, in ovarian cancer. Removing lipids from ascites abrogated the suppression of the immune system by ascites. Blocking the uptake of lipids through SR- B1 restored the activation and antitumor functions of NK cells in ascites, highlighting SR- B1 as a potential NK cell immunotherapy target.

“I am so pleased to see the usefulness of Cleanascite™ in such an important study of lipid influences on cancer metastasis. Unlike alternative lipid-depletion methods that use solvents, Cleanascite™ is an aqueous suspension product and so it is very compatible with cellular models of disease as shown here. The essential requirement is the maintenance of all other factors required for cellular activity after lipid depletion. We now have over 30 references in cell response applications with Cleanascite™, many studying the tumor microenvironment. With confidence that it does not introduce confounding artifacts upon use, researchers can dispositively determine the influence of lipid factors on phenotypic changes in various disease models” states Swapan Roy, Ph.D., President and Founder of Biotech Support Group.

For more information visit: Cleanascite™ Lipid Removal Reagent and Clarification, at
http://www.biotechsupportgroup.com/Cleanascite-Lipid-Removal-Reagent-p/x2555.htm

Keywords: High- grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), metastatic ovarian cancer, Natural Killer Cells, NK cell dysfunction, ascites, tumor microenvironment, Cleanascite™, lipid depletion

About Biotech Support Group LLC

Converging with cultural and technological disruptions forthcoming in healthcare, Biotech Support Group develops methods for cost effective and efficient sample prep essential for expanding proteomic analysis. Following a tiered business strategy, the company continues its growth in the consumable research products area. For this market, key products include: AlbuVoid™ and AlbuSorb™ PLUS for albumin & IgG depletion, Cleanascite™ for lipid adsorption, HemogloBind™ and HemoVoid™ for hemoglobin removal, and NRicher™ for low abundance, family specific, and targeted proteome enrichment. For more information, go to http://www.biotechsupportgroup.com

For Business Development, contact: Matthew Kuruc 732-274-2866, mkuruc@biotechsupportgroup.com