The translational success of oncolytic virotherapies would benefit from the widespread use of clinically relevant ex vivo models. Malignant ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum due to disseminated cancer, recapitulates many features of the tumor microenvironment, making it a valuable model for studying oncolytic virus activity. Here, we describe a method for the separation and storage of cellular and acellular components of malignant ascites, followed by flow cytometric characterization of the cellular fraction. We then outline a simple experiment using whole ascites to assess the activity of a bispecific T cell engager (BiTE)-expressing oncolytic adenovirus.
Keywords: Ascites; Ex vivo model; Flow cytometry; Liquid biopsies; Oncolytic virus.