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Updated: Jun 5, 2025
An Orthotopic Model of Serous Ovarian Cancer in Immunocompetent Mice for in vivo Tumor Imaging and Monitoring of Tumor Immune Responses
Published on: November 28, 2010
Examining the evidence for immune checkpoint therapy in high-grade serous ovarian cancer
A E Connor1,2,3, P M Lyons4, A M Kilgallon4
1UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract:
The 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer has remained relatively static over the past number of years, which can be attributed in part to the lack of new therapeutic strategies to target this disease. Although numerous other cancer types have benefited from the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors, their use in clinical trials targeting ovarian cancer has shown limited efficacy. Most clinical trials have focused on PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade, either as a monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapies, however inhibiting other pathways may potentially be more efficacious in treating ovarian cancer. For example, drugs targeting some emerging immune checkpoints (such as LAG-3, TIM-3, TIGIT and PVRIG), are entering into clinical trials, which could show improved success for ovarian cancer patients. Similarly, predictive biomarkers that have been approved for use with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as PD-L1 expression, are limited, as only the presence or absence of PD-L1 is assessed. However, the development of next generation predictive biomarkers, which assesses density and location of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, could be more beneficial for this heterogenous cancer. In this review we discuss the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in ovarian cancer, with a focus on high-grade serous disease, and delve into what the future may hold for immunotherapy in this cancer type.
Insights
Immune checkpoint inhibitors show limited efficacy in ovarian cancer. Exploring novel targets beyond PD-1/PD-L1 and advanced biomarkers may improve treatment outcomes for this disease.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- Ovarian cancer survival rates have stagnated due to a lack of novel therapeutic strategies.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown limited efficacy in ovarian cancer clinical trials, unlike in other cancers.
- Current research predominantly focuses on PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, with modest success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current application of ICIs in ovarian cancer, particularly high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
- To explore emerging immune checkpoint targets and advanced predictive biomarkers for improved immunotherapy efficacy.
- To discuss the future potential of immunotherapy in treating ovarian cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical trial data and scientific literature on ICIs in ovarian cancer.
- Analysis of the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as monotherapy and in combination treatments.
- Discussion of novel immune checkpoints (LAG-3, TIM-3, TIGIT, PVRIG) and next-generation biomarkers.
Main Results:
- Limited efficacy observed with current PD-1/PD-L1 based immunotherapies in ovarian cancer.
- Emerging immune checkpoints present potential new therapeutic avenues.
- Current predictive biomarkers (e.g., PD-L1 expression) are insufficient for heterogeneous ovarian cancer.
Conclusions:
- Novel immune checkpoint targets beyond PD-1/PD-L1 are crucial for advancing ovarian cancer immunotherapy.
- Next-generation predictive biomarkers assessing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are needed.
- Future immunotherapy strategies must address the heterogeneity of ovarian cancer for improved patient outcomes.
