Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic Opportunities

Chunyan Liu,1,* Qinan Yin,2,3,* Zhaoying Wu,1 Wenhui Li,1 Jun Huang,1 Bo Chen,1 Yanjun Yang,1 Xuewei Zheng,3 Li Zeng,3 Jingjing Wang3 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Fir...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Liu C, Yin Q, Wu Z, Li W, Huang J, Chen B, Yang Y, Zheng X, Zeng L, Wang J
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Inflammation Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/inflammation-and-immune-escape-in-ovarian-cancer-pathways-and-therapeu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832592053770387456
author Liu C
Yin Q
Wu Z
Li W
Huang J
Chen B
Yang Y
Zheng X
Zeng L
Wang J
author_facet Liu C
Yin Q
Wu Z
Li W
Huang J
Chen B
Yang Y
Zheng X
Zeng L
Wang J
author_sort Liu C
collection DOAJ
description Chunyan Liu,1,* Qinan Yin,2,3,* Zhaoying Wu,1 Wenhui Li,1 Jun Huang,1 Bo Chen,1 Yanjun Yang,1 Xuewei Zheng,3 Li Zeng,3 Jingjing Wang3 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, People’s Republic of China; 3Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chunyan Liu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, No. 2 Yinghua Dongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China, Email juneliu2022@126.comAbstract: Ovarian cancer (OC) remains one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, largely due to its late-stage diagnosis and high recurrence rates. Chronic inflammation is a critical driver of OC progression, contributing to immune evasion, tumor growth, and metastasis. Inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8, as well as key signaling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), are upregulated in OC, promoting a tumor-promoting environment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by immune cells like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress anti-tumor immune responses, facilitating immune evasion. Furthermore, OC cells utilize immune checkpoint pathways, including PD-1/PD-L1, to inhibit cytotoxic T cell activity. Targeting these inflammatory and immune evasion mechanisms offers promising therapeutic strategies. COX-2 inhibitors, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway blockers, and NF-kB inhibitors have shown potential in preclinical studies, while immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 have been explored with mixed results in OC. Additionally, emerging research on the microbiome and inflammation-related biomarkers, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and exosomes, points to new opportunities for early detection and precision medicine. Future approaches to OC treatment must focus on personalized strategies that target the inflammatory TME, integrating anti-inflammatory therapies with immunotherapy to enhance patient outcomes. Continued research into the interplay between inflammation and immune evasion in OC is essential for developing effective, long-lasting treatments.Keywords: ovarian cancer, inflammation-driven mechanisms, evasion of immune response, therapeutic strategies
format Article
id doaj-art-2a4367746ac8481691ace251d1e12ab4
institution Kabale University
issn 1178-7031
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format Article
series Journal of Inflammation Research
spelling doaj-art-2a4367746ac8481691ace251d1e12ab42025-01-21T16:58:06ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Inflammation Research1178-70312025-01-01Volume 1889590999429Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic OpportunitiesLiu CYin QWu ZLi WHuang JChen BYang YZheng XZeng LWang JChunyan Liu,1,* Qinan Yin,2,3,* Zhaoying Wu,1 Wenhui Li,1 Jun Huang,1 Bo Chen,1 Yanjun Yang,1 Xuewei Zheng,3 Li Zeng,3 Jingjing Wang3 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, People’s Republic of China; 3Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chunyan Liu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, No. 2 Yinghua Dongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China, Email juneliu2022@126.comAbstract: Ovarian cancer (OC) remains one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, largely due to its late-stage diagnosis and high recurrence rates. Chronic inflammation is a critical driver of OC progression, contributing to immune evasion, tumor growth, and metastasis. Inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8, as well as key signaling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), are upregulated in OC, promoting a tumor-promoting environment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by immune cells like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress anti-tumor immune responses, facilitating immune evasion. Furthermore, OC cells utilize immune checkpoint pathways, including PD-1/PD-L1, to inhibit cytotoxic T cell activity. Targeting these inflammatory and immune evasion mechanisms offers promising therapeutic strategies. COX-2 inhibitors, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway blockers, and NF-kB inhibitors have shown potential in preclinical studies, while immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 have been explored with mixed results in OC. Additionally, emerging research on the microbiome and inflammation-related biomarkers, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and exosomes, points to new opportunities for early detection and precision medicine. Future approaches to OC treatment must focus on personalized strategies that target the inflammatory TME, integrating anti-inflammatory therapies with immunotherapy to enhance patient outcomes. Continued research into the interplay between inflammation and immune evasion in OC is essential for developing effective, long-lasting treatments.Keywords: ovarian cancer, inflammation-driven mechanisms, evasion of immune response, therapeutic strategieshttps://www.dovepress.com/inflammation-and-immune-escape-in-ovarian-cancer-pathways-and-therapeu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIRovarian cancerinflammation-driven mechanismsevasion of immune responsetherapeutic strategies
spellingShingle Liu C
Yin Q
Wu Z
Li W
Huang J
Chen B
Yang Y
Zheng X
Zeng L
Wang J
Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic Opportunities
Journal of Inflammation Research
ovarian cancer
inflammation-driven mechanisms
evasion of immune response
therapeutic strategies
title Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_full Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_fullStr Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_short Inflammation and Immune Escape in Ovarian Cancer: Pathways and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_sort inflammation and immune escape in ovarian cancer pathways and therapeutic opportunities
topic ovarian cancer
inflammation-driven mechanisms
evasion of immune response
therapeutic strategies
url https://www.dovepress.com/inflammation-and-immune-escape-in-ovarian-cancer-pathways-and-therapeu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR
work_keys_str_mv AT liuc inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT yinq inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT wuz inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT liw inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT huangj inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT chenb inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT yangy inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT zhengx inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT zengl inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities
AT wangj inflammationandimmuneescapeinovariancancerpathwaysandtherapeuticopportunities