Fig 1: Human ovarian cancer cells derived from ascites exhibit increased efflux compared to cells derived from the primary tumor. A and B. Immortalized human ovarian cancer cells derived from patient ascites (HA1 and HA2 cells) or primary tumor site (TD cells) were incubated with eFFLux ID green dye for 40 min. Fluorescence intensity for each condition was measured by flow cytometry. Histogram of each cancer cell line derived from patient ascites (HA1 or HA2; blue) is overlaid with histogram of the primary tumor-derived line (TD; red)). B. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) was calculated for each line from three independent experiments. Fold decrease in geometric mean fluorescence intensity (GMFI) (relative to tumor-derived line) was calculated for each cell line in three independent experiments. Results are reported as the mean fold decrease from three independent trials treated (+/- SD). C. Total cellular extracts were obtained from a primary tumor-derived human ovarian cancer cell line (TD) and from each of two ascites-derived human ovarian cancer cell lines (HA1, HA2). Equivalent amounts of extracted proteins were subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunblotted with antibodies specific for MDR1, MRP1, BCRP, or beta actin, followed by the appropriate species IRdye-conjugated secondary antibody. Protein bands were detected by Odyssey infrared imaging. Protein bands were quantified using Image J software (NIH). Ratios of the indicated protein to beta actin are shown. D and E. Ascites-derived and tumor-derived human cell lines were incubated with or without inhibitors targeting MDR1, MRP or BCRP for 10 min and then incubated with eFFlux ID Green dye for 30 min. Samples were analyzed by flow cytometry. Histograms (+ inhibitor vs – inhibitor) were overlaid for each line (D). E. Multidrug resistance activity factor (MAF) was calculated for each sample, and mean MAF (+/- SD) from three independent experiments is shown for each condition in E. MAF values falling below background are indicated in gray. Statistically significant increases in MAF between ascites-treated and in vivo ascites cells (compared to untreated cells) are indicated. * indicates p<0.05. ** indicates p<.01, Student’s t-test.