Current and future immunotherapy approaches in ovarian cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the major cause of gynecologic cancer deaths and relapse is common despite advances in surgery and systemic chemotherapy. Therefore, novel treatments are required to improve long-term outcomes of the disease. Efficacy of immunotherapy was demonstrated in many tumors and it has been since incorporated into clinical practice for them. Although early data form preclinical studies imply that OC has an immunogenic microenvironment, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) did not produce favorable results in clinical trials to date. This review will highlight data from clinical studies regarding immunotherapy in OC and its combination with other agents as well as immunologic prospects which could strengthen the therapeutic armament against the disease in the future.

The Immune-Related Gene ELF3 is a Novel Biomarker for the Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer

“…Early efforts in this approach evaluated cytokine therapy for OC, but failed to present convincing Phase III data. 31 On the other hand, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as important immune stimulants and the immunological properties of OC provide a basis for their introduction into disease management. 31 However, when evaluated in pretreated patients with OC, ICIs have delivered only modest efficacy as monotherapy, necessitating additional approaches to realize the potential.…”

“… 31 On the other hand, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as important immune stimulants and the immunological properties of OC provide a basis for their introduction into disease management. 31 However, when evaluated in pretreated patients with OC, ICIs have delivered only modest efficacy as monotherapy, necessitating additional approaches to realize the potential. 31 Since then, several strategies have aimed to sensitive OC to immunotherapy by combining it with chemotherapy, anti-angiogenics, PARPi, radiotherapy, and dual immune checkpoint blockade.…”

“… 31 However, when evaluated in pretreated patients with OC, ICIs have delivered only modest efficacy as monotherapy, necessitating additional approaches to realize the potential. 31 Since then, several strategies have aimed to sensitive OC to immunotherapy by combining it with chemotherapy, anti-angiogenics, PARPi, radiotherapy, and dual immune checkpoint blockade. 31 The present study showed that ELF3 expression was associated with infiltration of aDC, CD8 T cells, Cytotoxic cells, DC, Eosinophils, iDC, Macrophages, Mast cells, Neutrophils, NK CD56bright cells, NK CD56dim cells, Tcm, Tem, Th1 cells, Th17 cells, and TReg in OC.…”

“… 31 Since then, several strategies have aimed to sensitive OC to immunotherapy by combining it with chemotherapy, anti-angiogenics, PARPi, radiotherapy, and dual immune checkpoint blockade. 31 The present study showed that ELF3 expression was associated with infiltration of aDC, CD8 T cells, Cytotoxic cells, DC, Eosinophils, iDC, Macrophages, Mast cells, Neutrophils, NK CD56bright cells, NK CD56dim cells, Tcm, Tem, Th1 cells, Th17 cells, and TReg in OC. This means that ELF3 promotes the function of aDC, CD8 T cells, Cytotoxic cells, DC, Eosinophils, iDC, Macrophages, Mast cells, Neutrophils, NK CD56bright cells, NK CD56dim cells, Tcm, Tem, Th1 cells, Th17 cells, and TReg.…”

The Role of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) in the Development and/or Progression of Endometriosis-State of the Art

“…This mechanism of angiogenesis-directed immune tolerance includes accumulation of immunoregulatory cells, e.g., Treg cells and MDSCs, and inhibition of T cell differentiation, proliferation, and functions. Since VEGF has such a great impact on angiogenesis and immunosuppression, therapy with VEGF blockade is another potential method to increase the anti-tumor activity of immunotherapy [19].…”