Immunotherapy in ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer: State of the art and future perspectives

Cancer Treat Rev. 2017 Sep:59:109-116. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.07.008. Epub 2017 Jul 31.

Abstract

The tumors of the female genital tract represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Substantial progresses have been made in ovarian cancer, with the increasing knowledge about BRCA mutated tumors and the recent development of PARP inhibitors, and in cervical cancer, thanks to extensive screening and widespread of vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus. Nevertheless many needs remain unmet, advanced stage diseases are still incurable and cervical and endometrial carcinoma, as well as platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma, can certainly be classifiable among the cancers with poor sensitivity to conventional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, including a number of approaches, checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cellular transfer, vaccines, has experienced a remarkable growth in the last few years and it is already an available option in melanoma, lung and renal malignancies. We reviewed the main findings about the immune microenvironment in ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer with a special focus on the clinical data, the therapeutic implications and the most promising novel agents.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Endometrial cancer; Immunotherapy; Ovarian cancer; PD1/PD-L1.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / immunology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / mortality
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / immunology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Survival Analysis
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / immunology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / mortality
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized