[The meaning of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in ovarian cancer pathogenesis]

Ovarian cancer is a serious diagnostic and clinical issue. It belongs to the group of cancers with the highest mortality rate, that is why new, effective methods of therapy have been sought after. In recent years, researchers have been paying attention to the use of immunothetapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Currently, the numer of studies with the use of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibitors is increasing. It has been reported that PD-1 receptor and its ligand are expressed on tumor cells and immunology system cells in patients with ovarian cancer. Increased expression of PD-1/PD-L1 is one of the inhibition mechanisms of the anti-tumor response by induction of peripheral tolerance. That seems why blocking PD-1/PD-L1 may be so important. A significant role in activation of programmed death cell-1 is attributed to tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review we have described the meaning of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in ovarian cancer pathogenesis and current results of clinical trials using PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Numerous clinical trials are focused on the effectiveness of immunotherapies as both monotherapy and combination therapy. The promising results of initial research phases are the basis for taking action on a larger scale. Perhaps this will allow in the future to use inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in the treatment of ovarian cancer.