Selected Mechanisms Inducing Resistance to Immunotherapy in Patients With Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Recently, the intensive development of immunotherapies in the treatment of malignant tumors has been observed. The investigated treatment approaches including specific monoclonal antibodies, adoptive therapy and also anticancer vaccinations. The implementation of immunotherapy seems to be promising in treatment of the most malignant and fatal tumors including ovarian cancer. However, current findings have shown only a nonsignificant improvement of patients’ survival. The possible cause of failure may be immunotherapy barriers that are a result of low immunogenicity level of ovarian cancer cells, mutation variability, and also the presence of a specific, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which stimulates the cancer progression. The review presents the selected mechanisms of tumor resistance to immunological therapy. In order to project effective treatment approaches, it is necessary to understand both, mechanisms leading to the correct response for the treatment and causing therapeutic failures, resulting from resistance to therapy.