Denarda Dangaj Laniti

Myeloid cell networks govern re-establishment of original immune landscapes in recurrent ovarian cancer

Immunotherapy has shown limited success in recurrent ovarian cancer (OC), with prognostic insights largely derived from treatment-naive tumors. We analyzed 697 tumor samples (566 primary and 131 recurrent) from 595 OC patients across five independent cohorts, capturing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) heterogeneity and identifying four immune phenotypes linked to prognosis and TIL:myeloid networks driving malignant progression. We found that in preclinical mouse models, mirroring inflamed human OCs, the recurrent Brca1

The Impact of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Ovarian Cancer Tumor Microenvironment: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Immunotherapy, particularly the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has shown limited efficacy in treating ovarian cancer (OC), possibly due to diverse T cell infiltration patterns in the tumor microenvironment. This review explores how neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) impacts the immune landscape of OC, focusing on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), PD-1/PD-L1 expression, and their clinical implications. A comprehensive literature search across four databases yielded nine relevant studies. These studies evaluated stromal (sTILs) and intra-epithelial (ieTILs) TILs before and after NACT. sTIL responses varied, impacting prognostic outcomes, and ieTILs increased in some patients without clear survival associations. PD-L1 expression after NACT correlated with improved overall survival (OS), and increases in granzyme B+ and PD-1 correlated with longer progression-free survival (PFS). Remarkably, reduced FoxP3+ TILs post-NACT correlated with better prognosis. NACT often increases sTIL/ieTIL and CD8+ subpopulations, but their correlation with improved PFS and OS varies. Upregulation of co-inhibitory molecules, notably PD-L1, suggests an immunosuppressive response to chemotherapy. Ongoing trials exploring neoadjuvant ICIs and chemotherapy offer promise for advancing OC treatment. Standardized measurements assessing TIL density, location, and heterogeneity are crucial for addressing genetic complexity and immunological heterogeneity in OC.

Low-Dose Radiotherapy Reverses Tumor Immune Desertification and Resistance to Immunotherapy

Abstract Developing strategies to inflame tumors is critical for increasing response to immunotherapy. Here, we report that low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) of murine tumors promotes T-cell infiltration and enables responsiveness to combinatorial immunotherapy in an IFN-dependent manner. Treatment efficacy relied upon mobilizing both adaptive and innate immunity and depended on both cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. LDRT elicited predominantly CD4+ cells with features of exhausted effector cytotoxic cells, with a subset expressing NKG2D and exhibiting proliferative capacity, as well as a unique subset of activated dendritic cells expressing the NKG2D ligand RAE1. We translated these findings to a phase I clinical trial administering LDRT, low-dose cyclophosphamide, and immune checkpoint blockade to patients with immune-desert tumors. In responsive patients, the combinatorial treatment triggered T-cell infiltration, predominantly of CD4+ cells with Th1 signatures. Our data support the rational combination of LDRT with immunotherapy for effectively treating low T cell–infiltrated tumors. Significance: Low-dose radiation reprogrammed the tumor microenvironment of tumors with scarce immune infiltration and together with immunotherapy induced simultaneous mobilization of innate and adaptive immunity, predominantly CD4+ effector T cells, to achieve tumor control dependent on NKG2D. The combination induced important responses in patients with metastatic immune-cold tumors. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1

Bevacizumab, Atezolizumab, and Acetylsalicylic Acid in Recurrent, Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: The EORTC 1508-GCG Phase II Study

Abstract Purpose: Treatment options for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) are limited, and new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. This phase II, randomized, multicentre trial evaluated the safety and activity of the anti–PD-L1 antibody atezolizumab (atezo) combined with the VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab (bev) and the irreversible cyclooxygenase 1/2 inhibitor aspirin [acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)] in PROC. Patients and Methods: Patients were randomized to bev monotherapy 15 mg/kg (arm 1), atezo 1,200 mg plus placebo (pbo; arm 2), atezo 1,200 mg plus ASA 320 mg/daily (arm 3), bev 15 mg/kg plus atezo 1,200 mg plus pbo (arm 4), or bev 15 mg/kg plus atezo 1,200 mg plus ASA 320 mg/daily (arm 5). Primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS-6) according to RECIST v1.1 assessed by a local investigator. Secondary objectives included overall survival, PFS, second PFS (PFS2), and tolerability. Time to first subsequent therapy (TFST) was evaluated in a post hoc analysis. Results: In arms 1 (bev), 4 (bev–atezo–pbo), and 5 (bev–atezo–ASA), there were 7/32 [21.9%, 70% confidence interval (CI), 14.0–32.0], 8/32 (25.0%, 70% CI, 16.6–35.3), and 8/32 (25.0%, 70% CI, 16.6–35.3) patients alive and progression-free at 6 months. The primary objective was not reached in any arm. Median PFS and response rates were 2.3 for bev monotherapy, 4.1 for bev–atezo–pbo, and 4.0 months for bev–atezo–ASA and 10%, 19%, and 15%, respectively. Two patients achieved an ongoing complete response lasting for more than 5 years from randomization (1 in bev–atezo–pbo and 1 in bev–atezo–ASA). A post hoc analysis of TFST suggested benefit of adding bev to atezo–ASA (P < 0.001). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) increased in the atezo-containing arms after the first two cycles, and increased TIL were associated with a significantly longer TFST. Conclusions: The addition of ASA to bev plus atezo was well-tolerated but did not improve efficacy in PROC. Relative to bev alone, the bev plus atezo combination numerically improved PFS. Exploratory translational analyses suggest clinical benefit in a subgroup of patients characterized by high TIL infiltration and PD-L1–positive tumors at baseline.