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Anti-PD-L1/PD-1 immune therapies in ovarian cancer: basic mechanism and future clinical application

  • Invited Review Article
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Abstract

Tumor immune therapy, especially anti-programmed cell death ligand-1/programmed cell death-1 (PD-L1/PD-1) treatment, is currently the focus of substantial attention. Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of mortality from gynecological malignancies, and novel treatment modalities, including immune therapy, are needed. However, a basic understanding of tumor immunity associated with the PD-L1/PD-1 signal has only recently emerged. In this review, we first discuss the importance of local tumor immunity, which affects the clinical outcome of ovarian cancer. We subsequently provide an overview of the basic findings regarding how the PD-L1/PD-1 signal influences local tumor immunity in ovarian cancer. Finally, we discuss what is needed to apply immune therapy in future clinical medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kinki University, Osaka-Sayama, Japan

    Masaki Mandai

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    Junzo Hamanishi, Kaoru Abiko, Noriomi Matsumura, Tsukasa Baba & Ikuo Konishi

Authors
  1. Masaki Mandai
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  2. Junzo Hamanishi
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  3. Kaoru Abiko
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  4. Noriomi Matsumura
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  5. Tsukasa Baba
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  6. Ikuo Konishi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masaki Mandai.

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Conflict of interest

Masaki Mandai, Kaoru Abiko, Tsukasa Baba, and Ikuo Konishi have no conflict of interest. Junzo Hamanishi and Noriomi Matsumura received a research grant from Daiichi Sankyo Ltd.

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Mandai, M., Hamanishi, J., Abiko, K. et al. Anti-PD-L1/PD-1 immune therapies in ovarian cancer: basic mechanism and future clinical application. Int J Clin Oncol 21, 456–461 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-016-0968-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-016-0968-y

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