Immunology and immunotherapy of ovarian cancer

Abstract

Despite the nondisputable progress in treatment of ovarian cancer, it still brings serious challenge to the doctors and poor prognosis to the majority of patients. The most important processes which shape the cancer development are neoangiogenesis and chronic inflammation. Mediators engaged in their regulation have a deep impact on the ovarian cancer proliferation, peritoneal spread, and distant metastases. The regulatory network which contributes to cancer escape from host immune surveillance is very complex and still needs to be fully uncovered: however, its so far understanding has brought some improvements in ovarian cancer therapy. One of them is an introduction of bevacizumab into routine treatment, based on its clinical efficacy. It is hoped that information presented in this chapter will help to summarize the present knowledge about immunology of ovarian cancer and to fertilize the reader’s mind with new ideas.