Immunotherapy found effective against a subtype of difficult-to-treat ovarian cancer
A research group has revealed through studies in humans and mice that a subset of clear cell ovarian cancers, which have been considered difficult to treat with anticancer drugs and immunotherapy, responds to immunotherapy.
A research team has discovered that a specific subtype of clear cell ovarian cancer, previously considered challenging for immunotherapy, responds well to immunotherapy treatment. By analyzing human tissue samples and genetic data from 180 cases, the team identified that approximately 5% of these cancers exhibit a high activity of the inflammation-related protein IL-17.
This subtype demonstrated an inflammatory signature, characterized by immune cell infiltration and activation within the tumor microenvironment. Independent of conventional immunotherapy biomarkers like microsatellite instability (MSI) and high tumor mutational burden (TMB), this IL-17 activity could serve as a novel biomarker for predicting individual patient responses to immunotherapy.
The researchers then validated their findings using mouse models of clear cell ovarian cancer and cultured cells. They found that IL-17 directly influences cancer cells, activating an inflammatory response known as NF-κB and encouraging the release of substances that attract and activate immune cells. When an IL-17-rich environment was created in the mice, there was an increased infiltration and activation of immune cells within the tumors, resulting in enhanced immunotherapy efficacy and prolonged survival.
These findings suggest that identifying tumors with high IL-17 activity may help select patients with clear cell ovarian cancer who are likely to benefit from immunotherapy, potentially paving the way for more personalized treatment approaches in the future.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
