6 March 2024 | Dimitrios Stefanoudakis, Evaggelia Karopoulou, Alkis Matsas, Georgia Anna Katsampoula, Ermioni Tsarna, Eleni Stamoula and Panagiotis Christopoulos
Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment approach for cervical and endometrial cancers, offering new hope for improved outcomes and prolonged survival. This review provides an overview of current immunotherapy strategies and future directions in these cancers. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, have shown significant clinical efficacy in advanced or recurrent cases. Cancer vaccines and adoptive cell therapies are also being explored for personalized and targeted treatment options.
In cervical cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab have demonstrated promising results, particularly in patients with PD-L1-positive tumors. Combination therapies with chemotherapy and radiation are being investigated to enhance treatment efficacy. Cancer vaccines, including peptide-based and dendritic cell vaccines, are being tested for their ability to induce immune responses against HPV-related cancers. Adoptive cell therapies, such as TCR-T and CAR-T, are being explored for their potential to target cancer cells, although challenges remain in managing toxicity and optimizing treatment for solid tumors.
In endometrial cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown efficacy in mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) tumors, with pembrolizumab and dostarlimab demonstrating significant antitumor activity. Combination approaches with chemotherapy and other immunomodulatory agents are being evaluated to improve outcomes. The role of the microbiome in cancer progression and treatment response is also being explored, highlighting the importance of microbiota modulation in treatment strategies.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain in identifying reliable biomarkers for patient selection and overcoming resistance mechanisms. Further research is needed to refine immunotherapeutic approaches and develop innovative strategies to enhance response rates and prolong treatment durations. With ongoing clinical trials and advancements in genetic engineering, immunotherapy holds great potential to revolutionize the treatment landscape for gynecological cancers, offering new hope for patients with limited treatment options.Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment approach for cervical and endometrial cancers, offering new hope for improved outcomes and prolonged survival. This review provides an overview of current immunotherapy strategies and future directions in these cancers. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, have shown significant clinical efficacy in advanced or recurrent cases. Cancer vaccines and adoptive cell therapies are also being explored for personalized and targeted treatment options.
In cervical cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab have demonstrated promising results, particularly in patients with PD-L1-positive tumors. Combination therapies with chemotherapy and radiation are being investigated to enhance treatment efficacy. Cancer vaccines, including peptide-based and dendritic cell vaccines, are being tested for their ability to induce immune responses against HPV-related cancers. Adoptive cell therapies, such as TCR-T and CAR-T, are being explored for their potential to target cancer cells, although challenges remain in managing toxicity and optimizing treatment for solid tumors.
In endometrial cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown efficacy in mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) tumors, with pembrolizumab and dostarlimab demonstrating significant antitumor activity. Combination approaches with chemotherapy and other immunomodulatory agents are being evaluated to improve outcomes. The role of the microbiome in cancer progression and treatment response is also being explored, highlighting the importance of microbiota modulation in treatment strategies.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain in identifying reliable biomarkers for patient selection and overcoming resistance mechanisms. Further research is needed to refine immunotherapeutic approaches and develop innovative strategies to enhance response rates and prolong treatment durations. With ongoing clinical trials and advancements in genetic engineering, immunotherapy holds great potential to revolutionize the treatment landscape for gynecological cancers, offering new hope for patients with limited treatment options.