title: Immunotherapy of Ovarian Cancer: The Role of Checkpoint Inhibitors.
abstract: Ovarian cancer is the most important cause of gynecological cancer-related mortality, with the majority of women presenting with advanced disease. Although surgery and chemotherapy can improve survival rates, it is necessary to integrate alternative strategies to improve the outcomes. Advances in understanding the role of immune system in the pathogenesis of cancer have led to the rapid evolvement of immunotherapy, which might establish a sustained immune system response against recurring cancer cells. Recently, it has emerged that powerful immunologic effector cells may be blocked by inhibitory regulatory pathways controlled by specific molecules often called "immune checkpoints," which turn off the immune system. Similarly, cancer cells are able to use these checkpoints to avoid immune control and rejection. Inhibition of these inhibitory pathways represents a potent strategy in the fight against cancer and is currently under investigation with encouraging results in some cancers, such as melanoma. In ovarian cancer researches are still in an early phase, but with promising results. In this review we will explore the rationale of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer with a special focus on these emerging molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 326, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Felice
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Innocenza
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Palaia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 326, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musio
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muzii
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 326, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tombolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi Benedetti
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Panici
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007155:Immunologic Factors