title: The Role of the Immune System in Ovarian Cancer and Implications on Therapy.
abstract: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy in the United States. While the treatment options have improved with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and advanced surgical techniques, disease recurrence is common and fatal in nearly all cases. Current evidence suggests that the immune system and its ability to recognize and eliminate microscopic disease is paramount in preventing recurrence. The goal of immunotherapy is to balance the activation of the immune system against cancer while preventing the potential for tremendous toxicity elicited by immune modulation. In this paper we will review the role of immune system in disease pathogenesis and different immunotherapies available for the treatment of ovarian cancer as well as current ongoing studies and potential future directions.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Gulden
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menderes
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Carlton L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Alessandro D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Santin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D054992:Immunological Synapses; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Immunotherapy; immune checkpoints; immunoediting; ovarian cancer; targeted therapy