Tumor immunology & the application of immunotherapy in ovarian carcinoma

It has become abundantly clear that a successful anti-tumor immune response in cancer requires the presence, activation, and co-stimulation of all lymphoid components of the immune system, including CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells and B cells. This thesis elucidates on the immune environment and its importance in the application of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer. Thus far, immunotherapy is moderately successful in the treatment of ovarian cancer compared to e.g. melanoma and lung cancer. To improve clinical outcome it is essential to combine the right therapies for the right patient and to administer the treatment at the right window-of-opportunity. From our data we conclude that CD8+CD103+ TRM have a strong predictive value and quantification can play an important role in determining treatment strategy for different patient groups (high vs low TIL). Furthermore, upregulation of MHC-I expression in NACT patients may restore antigen presentation and the prognostic effect of TILs, which could eventually lead to improved response to immunotherapy in this group of patients. Finally, combining vaccination strategy with chemotherapy and/or ICI could improve the overall response rates in HGSOC patients