Immunotherapies based on PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibitors in ovarian cancer treatment

Abstract

Immunotherapies based on anti-programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway inhibitors may turn out effective in ovarian cancer (OC) treatment. They can be used in combination with standard therapy and are especially promising in recurrent and platinum-resistant OC. There is growing evidence that the mechanism of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can be specific for a particular histological cancer type. Interestingly, the data have shown that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway blockade may be effective, especially in the endometrioid type of OC. It is important to identify the cause of anti-tumor immune response suppression and exclude its other mechanisms in OC patients. It is also necessary to conduct subsequent studies to confirm in which OC cases the treatment is effective and how to select patients and combine drugs to improve patient survival.

Keywords: PD-1; T cell; immune checkpoints; immunotherapy; ovarian cancer.

Figure 1

Estimated number of cancer cases in women worldwide 2, 4.

Figure 2

Estimated number of cancer deaths in women worldwide 3, 4.

Figure 3

Inhibition of T cell activity caused by binding programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) to programmed death (PD‐1).

Figure 4

(a) Inhibition of T cell activity caused by binding programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) to programmed death (PD‐1). The T cell is exhausted. (b) Activity of anti‐PD‐1 and anti‐PD‐L1 antibodies. The T cell remains active.