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Programmed death-1 pathway blockade produces a synergistic antitumor effect: combined application in ovarian cancer

Xinxin Zhu1, Jinghe Lang2

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
|June 29, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Combining immunotherapies with other treatments shows promise for ovarian cancer (OC). These novel combinations enhance antitumor responses and improve survival rates by modulating the tumor microenvironment.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Therapy

Background:

  • The programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is crucial in immune suppression, often exploited by advanced cancers like ovarian cancer (OC) to evade immune attack.
  • Blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can reverse tumor-induced immunosuppression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review novel combination immunotherapies for ovarian cancer.
  • To discuss the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these combined approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies on PD-1/PD-L1 pathway blockades in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, or other immunotherapeutic agents.
  • Analysis of effects on tumor microenvironment and overall survival in ovarian cancer models and patients.

Main Results:

  • Combined immunotherapies demonstrate synergistic antitumor effects in ovarian cancer.
  • These combinations significantly prolong overall survival by enhancing CD4+ and CD8+ T cell and cytokine levels while reducing regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs).
  • Ovarian cancer patients receiving combined immunotherapy show better prognoses compared to monotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Combination immunotherapy represents a promising, effective, and cost-effective strategy for treating ovarian cancer.
  • Novel therapeutic combinations are shifting the paradigm for ovarian cancer treatment, offering improved outcomes.
Keywords:
Combined Modality TherapyImmunotherapyOvarian NeoplasmsPD-L1 Protein, HumanProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorTherapeutic UseToxicity

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