Therapy For Ovarian Cancer Patients Research Articles

Utilizing a Pathomics Biomarker to Predict the Effectiveness of Bevacizumab in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

The purpose of this investigation is to develop and initially assess a quantitative image analysis scheme that utilizes histopathological images to predict the treatment effectiveness of bevacizumab therapy in ovarian cancer patients. As a widely accessible diagnostic tool, histopathological slides contain copious information regarding underlying tumor progression that is associated with tumor prognosis. However, this information cannot be readily identified by conventional visual examination. This study utilizes novel pathomics technology to quantify this meaningful information for treatment effectiveness prediction. Accordingly, a total of 9828 features were extracted from segmented tumor tissue, cell nuclei, and cell cytoplasm, which were categorized into geometric, intensity, texture, and subcellular structure features. Next, the best performing features were selected as the input for SVM (support vector machine)-based prediction models. These models were evaluated on an open dataset containing a total of 78 patients and 288 whole slides images. The results indicated that the sufficiently optimized, best-performing model yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.8312. When examining the best model’s confusion matrix, 37 and 25 cases were correctly predicted as responders and non-responders, respectively, achieving an overall accuracy of 0.7848. This investigation initially validated the feasibility of utilizing pathomics techniques to predict tumor responses to chemotherapy at an early stage.

A real-world study of treatment patterns following disease progression in epithelial ovarian cancer patients undergoing poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor maintenance therapy

BackgroundThe efficacy of subsequent therapy after poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor maintenance treatment has raised concerns. Retrospective studies show worse outcomes for platinum-based chemotherapy after progression of PARP inhibitor-maintenance therapy, especially in BRCA-mutant patients. We aimed to describe subsequent therapy in ovarian cancer patients after PARP inhibitor-maintenance therapy and evaluate their response to treatment. We focused on chemotherapy for patients with a progression-free interval (PFI) of ≥ 6 months after prior platinum treatment, based on BRCA status.MethodsWe analyzed real-world data from Peking University Cancer Hospital, subsequent therapy after progression to PARP inhibitor-maintenance therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer between January 2016 and December 2022. Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes were extracted from medical records. The last follow-up was in May 2023.ResultsA total of 102 patients were included, of which 29 (28.4%) had a germline BRCA1/2 mutation and 73 (71.6%) exhibited BRCA1/2 wild-type mutations. The PARP inhibitors used were Olaparib (n = 62, 60.8%), Niraparib (n = 35, 34.3%), and others (n = 5, 4.9%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 41.2%, and the median time to second progression (mTTSP) was 8.1 months (95%CI 5.8–10.2). Of 91 platinum-sensitive patients (PFI ≥ 6 months) after progression to PARP inhibitor-maintenance therapy, 65 patients subsequently received platinum regimens. Among them, 30 had received one line of chemotherapy before PARP inhibitor-maintenance therapy. Analysis of these 30 patients by BRCA status showed an ORR of 16.7% versus 33.3% and mTTSP of 7.1 (95% CI 4.9–9.1) versus 6.2 months (95% CI 3.7–8.3, P = 0.550), for BRCA-mutant and wild-type patients, respectively. For the remaining 35 patients who had received two or more lines of chemotherapy before PARP inhibitor-maintenance therapy, ORR was 57.1% versus 42.9%, and mTTSP was 18.0 (95% CI 5.0–31.0) versus 8.0 months (95% CI 4.9–11.1, P = 0.199), for BRCA-mutant and wild-type patients, respectively.ConclusionNo differences in survival outcomes were observed among patients with different BRCA statuses. Furthermore, for patients who had undergone two or more lines of chemotherapy before PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy, no negative effects of PARP inhibitors on subsequent treatment were found, regardless of BRCA status.

Phenotype-guided targeted therapy based on functional signal transduction pathway activity in recurrent ovarian cancer patients: The STAPOVER study protocol

ObjectiveOvarian cancer is the fifth cause of cancer-related death among women. The benefit of targeted therapy for ovarian cancer patients is limited even if treatment is stratified by molecular signature. There remains a high unmet need for alternative diagnostics that better predict targeted therapy, as current diagnostics are generally inaccurate predictors. Quantitative assessment of functional signal transduction pathway (STP) activity from mRNA measurements of target genes is an alternative approach. Therefore, we aim to identify aberrantly activated STPs in tumour tissue of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer and start phenotype-guided targeted therapy to improve survival without compromising quality of life. Study designPatients with recurrent ovarian cancer and either 1) have platinum-resistant disease, 2) refrain from standard therapy or 3) are asymptomatic and not yet eligible for standard therapy will be included in this multi-centre prospective cohort study with multiple stepwise executed treatment arms. Targeted therapy will be available for patients with aberrantly high functional activity of the oestrogen receptor, androgen receptor, phosphoinositide 3-kinase or Hedgehog STP. The primary endpoint of this study is the progression-free survival (PFS) ratio (PFS2/PFS1 ratio) according to RECIST 1.1 determined by the PFS on matched targeted therapy (PFS2) compared to PFS on prior therapy (PFS1). Secondary endpoints include among others best overall response, overall survival, side effects, health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness. ConclusionThe results of this study will show the clinical applicability of STP activity in selecting recurrent ovarian cancer patients for effective therapies.

The Relationship Between Melatonin 1-2 Receptor Expression in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and Survival.

Melatonin has antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, apoptotic, and immunomodulatory properties in ovarian cancer. Considering those, we evaluated the relationship between melatonin 1 (MT1) and melatonin 2 receptor (MT2) expression in tumor tissues of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Patients who received primary surgical treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer in our clinic between 2000 and 2019 were retrospectively scanned through patient files, electronic databases, and telephone calls. One hundred forty-two eligible patients were included in the study, their tumoral tissues were examined to determine MT1 and MT2 expression by immunohistochemical methods. The percentage of receptor-positive cells and intensity of staining were determined. MT1 receptor expression ( P = 0.002 for DFS and P = 0.002 for OS) showed a significant effect on DFS and OS. MT2 expression had no effect on survival ( P = 0.593 for DFS and P = 0.209 for OS). The results showed that the higher the MT1 receptor expression, the longer the DFS and OS. It is suggested that melatonin should be considered as adjuvant therapy for ovarian cancer patients in addition to standard treatment, and clinical progress should be observed.

Ovarian cancer classification and prognosis assessment model based on prognostic target genes in key microRNA-target gene networks.

The present study was designed to screen key microRNA (miRNA)-target gene networks for ovarian cancer (OC) and to classify and construct a risk assessment system for OC based on the target genes. OC sample data of The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset and GSE26193, GSE30161, GSE63885 and GSE9891 datasets were retrospectively collected. Pearson correlation analysis and targeted analysis of miRNA and target gene were performed to screen key miRNA-target gene networks. Target genes associated with the prognosis of OC were screened from key miRNA-target gene networks for consensus clustering and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-based regression machine learning analysis of OC samples. Twenty target genes of 2651 key miRNA-target gene pairs had significant prognostic correlation in each OC cohort, and OC was divided into three clusters. There were differences in prognostic outcome, biological pathways, immune cell abundance and susceptibility to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and anti-tumor drugs among the three molecular clusters. S2 exhibited the least advantage in prognosis and immunotherapy response rate in the three molecular clusters, and the pathways regulating immunity, hypoxia, metabolism and promoting malignant progression of cancer, as well as infiltrating immune and stromal cell population abundance, were the highest in this cluster. An eight-target gene prognostic model was created, and the risk index obtained by using this model not only significantly distinguished the immune characteristics of the sample, but also predicted the response of the sample to ICB treatment, and helped to screen 36 potential anti-OC drugs. The present study provides a classification strategy for OC based on prognostic target genes in key miRNA-target gene networks, and creates a risk assessment system for predicting prognosis and response to ICB therapy in OC patients, providing molecular basis for prognosis and precise treatment of OC.

To Bev or Not to Bev during Ovarian Cancer Maintenance Therapy?

Maintenance therapy with PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab is approved for ovarian cancer treatment in the first and second line settings, but selecting the optimal sequence is challenging due to restrictions on using the same medication twice. This review aims to establish guidelines for ovarian cancer maintenance therapy based on the strength of scientific evidence, the most effective treatment strategy, and the impact on the healthcare system. Six questions were formulated to evaluate the scientific evidence supporting different maintenance therapy options using the AGREE II guideline evaluation tool. The questions address the acceptability of reusing the same medication, the efficacy of bevacizumab and PARP inhibitors in the first and second line settings, the comparative efficacy of these medications, the potential benefit of combination maintenance therapy, and the economic impact of maintenance therapy. Based on the available evidence, bevacizumab should be preserved for second line maintenance therapy, and maintenance therapy with PARP inhibitors should be offered to all advanced ovarian cancer patients who have responded to first line platinum-based chemotherapy. Additional molecular predictors for bevacizumab efficacy are needed. The presented guidelines offer an evidence-based framework for selecting the most effective maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer patients. Further research is necessary to refine these recommendations and improve outcomes for patients with this disease.

PTGIS May Be a Predictive Marker for Ovarian Cancer by Regulating Fatty Acid Metabolism.

Ovarian cancer tends to metastasize to the omentum, which is an organ mainly composed of adipose tissue. Many studies have found that fatty acid metabolism is related to the occurrence and metastasis of cancers. Therefore, it is possible that fatty acid metabolism-related genes (FAMRG) affect the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. First, profiles of ovarian cancer and normal ovarian tissue transcriptomes were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. A LASSO regression predictive model was developed via the "glmnet" R package. The nomogram was created via the "regplot." Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were conducted to determine the FAMRGs' roles. The percentage of immunocyte infiltration was calculated via CIBERSORT. Using "pRRophetic," the sensitivity of eight regularly used medications and immunotherapy was anticipated. 125 genes were determined as different expression genes (DEGs). Based on RXRA, ECI2, PTGIS, and ACACB, a prognostic model is created and the risk score is calculated. Analyses of univariate and multivariate regressions revealed that the risk score was a distinct prognostic factor (univariate: HR: 2.855, 95% CI: 1.756-4.739, P < 0.001; multivariate: HR: 2.943, 95% CI: 1.800-4.812, P < 0.001). The nomogram demonstrated that it properly predicted the 1-year survival rate. The expression of memory B molecular units, follicular helper T molecular units, regulatory T molecular units, and M1 macrophages differed remarkably between the groups at high and low risk (P < 0.05). Adipocytokine signaling pathways, cancer pathways, and degradation of valine, leucine, and isoleucine vary between high- and low-risk populations. The findings of the GO enrichment revealed that the extracellular matrix and cellular structure were the two most enriched pathways. PTGIS, which is an important gene in fatty acid metabolism, was identified as the hub gene. This result was verified in ovarian cancer and ovarian tissues. The connection between the gene and survival was statistically remarkable (P = 0.015). The pRRophetic algorithm revealed that the low-risk group was more adaptable to cisplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and etoposide (P < 0.001). PTGIS may be an indicator of prognosis and a possible therapeutic target for the therapy of ovarian cancer patients. The fatty acid metabolism of immune cells may be controlled, which has an indirect effect on cancer cell growth.

Long Non-Coding RNAs and microRNAs Groups in the Regulation of Expression Level of a Number of Tumor-Associated Genes in Ovarian Cancer.

The search for interacting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs of protein-coding genes through the mechanism of competing endogenous RNAs in tumors of ovarian cancer patients was carried out. The levels of expression of 24 lncRNAs, 20 miRNAs, and 28 mRNAs of protein-coding genes involved in oncogenesis were determined by real-time PCR on a set of representative samples. Correlations between lncRNAs/miRNA and miRNA/mRNA levels in ovarian cancer samples were analyzed. We identified 8 pairs of lncRNAs/miRNA and 17 pairs of miRNA/mRNA, the expression levels of which have a negative correlation. Five triplets of potentially interacting lncRNAs/miRNA/mRNA have been identified, among which the most significant triplet is the OIP5-AS1/miR-203a-3p/ZEB1. The data obtained determine new epigenetic profiles, as well as new potential biomarkers and targets for targeted therapy of ovarian cancer patients.

The Immune Subtype Contributes to Distinct Overall Survival for Ovarian Cancer Patients With Platinum-Based Adjuvant Therapy.

ObjectiveNowadays, platinum-based therapy has been widely used as the first-line therapy of ovarian cancer. However, the effect of the tumor microenvironment on platinum-based therapy remains unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between immune microenvironment subtypes and the prognosis of platinum-based therapy in ovarian cancer.MethodsWe integrated 565 ovarian cancer samples from two datasets and obtained the immune subtypes (ISs) by consistent clustering of 1190 immune-related gene expressions. The proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the relationship between ISs and the prognosis of platinum-based adjuvant therapy including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The prognostic contribution of ISs was validated in three additional cohorts. Non-parametric tests were used to assess genomic characteristics, the proportion of immune cells, and immune-related signature differences among ISs.ResultsWe identified and validated five ISs associated with different clinical outcomes of the platinum-based adjuvant therapy in ovarian cancer patients. These differences were only found in OS rather than PFS. An immune subtype had the worst OS. Those patients mainly derived from the mesenchymal subtype had the lowest tumor purity with a high leukocyte fraction as well as stromal fraction and had the highest TGF-β response signaling. By contrast, an immune subtype characterized by immunoreactive status with the highest CD8+T cell infiltration and elevated IFN-γ response signaling had the best prognosis. Other subtypes with more diverse immunologic features such as lowest macrophage regulation signaling showed intermediate prognoses. Notably, the contribution of ISs to OS was independent of the clinical response to platinum-based drugs.ConclusionOur analysis revealed the association between different immune characteristics and platinum-based adjuvant therapy, indicating the combination of ISs and chemotherapy could optimize the treatment strategy of OC patients.

Abstract 1280: Immunologic effect of PARP inhibitors as maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer patients

Abstract Poly (adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are becoming the standard of care for ovarian cancer. The greatest benefit has been observed in patients who have mutations in BRCA1/2 or related genes in the homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway. Nonetheless, responses to PARPi were not durable, indicating that strategies to prevent recurrence and overcome resistance, such as combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), are of high priority. However, most studies on PARPi have focused on the tumor itself and synthetic lethality. The immunological effect, particularly the effect on adaptive immune response, has been overlooked. PARP is expressed in almost all cells, and it regulates the transcription of various genes through poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Therefore, we hypothesized that PARPi affect the composition and functions of T cells in the maintenance therapy setting, and consequently reconstitute the anti-tumor immune response in ovarian cancer. Here, we collected serial peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from PARPi-treated patients and analyzed their dynamic immunologic changes using muticolor flow cytometry. The PBMCs were collected during PARPi maintenance therapy, and the time points included pre-treatment as well as 1 month and 3 months after the initiation of treatment. Olaparib or niraparib was used as maintenance therapy. First, the percentages of CD4, CD8, and FoxP3+regulatory T cells (Treg cells) were compared at each time point and by PARPi type. Interestingly, the proportion of Treg cells increased at 1 and 3 months after initiation, especially in the niraparib group. However, there were no significant changes in the proportion of CD4 and CD8 T cells. Second, we analyzed immune checkpoints and properties in each T cell population. We found that the PD-1 expression on Treg cells decreased after 1 and 3 months. Although the percentage of Treg cells increased, proliferative Ki-67+Treg cells decreased after 1 and 3 months, especially in the niraparib group. Third, intracellular staining assay was performed to measure functional changes of T cells during PARPi treatment. IFN-γ and/or TNF-α producing CD8 and CD4 T cells decreased after 1 month compared to pre-treatment. Finally, proliferative Ki-67+CD8 T cells and PD-1+CD8 T cells decreased after 72 hours of in vitro olaparib treatment compared to the control group. In conclusion, long-term PAPRi treatment may affect Treg cells and CD8 T cells. However, strategies to overcome negative effects of PARPi and their detailed mechanisms need to be further investigated. Additional data in this regard will be presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Junsik Park, Miran Lee, Yup Kim, Yoo-Na Kim, Yong-Jae Lee, Jung-Yun Lee. Immunologic effect of PARP inhibitors as maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1280.

Abstract 3146: EGFL6 induces immunosuppressive functions of tumor-associated myeloid cells and mediates resistance to anti-PDL1 therapy

Abstract Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are critical negative regulators of immunity in cancer. Understanding factors which regulate these cells could result in the identification of new approaches to enhance anti-tumor immunotherapy. One such factor is Epidermal growth factor-like 6 (EGFL6). EGFL6 is a secreted factor known to promote cancer stem like cell migration and regulate cancer cell differentiation. Similarly, EGFL6 promotes endothelial cell migration and proliferation. Indicating a potential role for EGFL6 as a myeloid cell regulatory factor, we found that mice which overexpress Egfl6 have an increased numbers of granulocytes and monocytes in both the bone marrow and spleen. In vitro and ex-vivo analysis indicated that EGFL6, via binding with beta integrins and activation of Syk/ERK signaling, (i) acts as a chemotactic factor for human myeloid cells migration and (ii) promotes their differentiation toward a suppressive state. Suggesting an important role in promoting an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), using two syngeneic mouse models of ovarian cancer, we found that expression of Egfl6 in tumor cells resulted in increased accumulation of intra-tumoral MDSCs and TAMs and fewer cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. This was associated with increased tumor growth and shortened animal survival. Gene expression profiling and flow cytometry analysis of tumor infiltrating myeloid cells indicated that Egfl6 induced the expression of immunosuppressive factors, including CXCL2, IL-10 and PD-L1. Consistent with Egfl6 driving an immune suppressive TME, EGFL6 expression in an otherwise immune ‘hot’/anti-PD-L1 responsive tumor model completely inhibited response to anti-PD-L-1 therapy. We are currently evaluating the impact of Egfl6 neutralizing antibody on the efficacy of ICI therapy and anti-tumor immunity. Combined our data show that EGFL6 acts as a chemotactic factor to both recruit myeloid cells to the ovarian TME and subsequently promotes their differentiation to an immunosuppressive phenotype. This suggests EGFL6 is a potential novel therapeutic target to ovarian tumor mediated immunosuppression and enhance response to immune therapy in ovarian cancer patients. Citation Format: Sarah Sinno, Shoumei Bai, Claudia Coronnello, Anda Vlad, Ronald J. Buckanovich, Sandra Cascio. EGFL6 induces immunosuppressive functions of tumor-associated myeloid cells and mediates resistance to anti-PDL1 therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3146.

The Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor's Association with the Outcome of Ovarian Cancer Patients and Its Experimental Inhibition by Rupatadine.

The platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) and its ligand (PAF) are important inflammatory mediators that are overexpressed in ovarian cancer. The receptor is an important player in ovarian cancer development. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of PAFR in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and the potential use of its antagonist, rupatadine, as an experimental treatment. Tissue microarrays of ovarian cancer patients, most markedly those with a non-mucinous subtype, immunohistochemically overexpressed PAFR. Elevated cytoplasmic PAFR expression was found to significantly and independently impair patients’ overall and recurrence-free survival (OS: median 83.48 vs. 155.03 months; p = 0.022; RFS: median 164.46 vs. 78.03 months; p = 0.015). In vitro, the serous ovarian cancer subtypes especially displayed an elevated PAFR gene and protein expression. siRNA knockdown of PAFR decreased cell proliferation significantly, thus confirming the receptor’s protumorigenic effect on ovarian cancer cells. The clinically approved PAFR antagonist rupatadine effectively inhibited in vitro cell proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells. PAFR is a prognostic marker in ovarian cancer patients and its inhibition through rupatadine may have important therapeutic implications in the therapy of ovarian cancer patients.

A RNAi screening to identify novel targets in cisplatin‐resistant ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks 5th in cancer-related deaths among women around the world. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that for 2020, there will be 21,750 newly diagnosed ovarian cancer women and 13,940 related deaths in the US alone. Around 94% of ovarian cancer patients survive five years after diagnosis when the disease is detected at an early stage. However, less than 45% of women patients survive when this disease is diagnosed at advanced stages. Currently, there is no effective therapy for ovarian cancer patients, in particular for those that become resistant to chemotherapy (cisplatin). Thus, we need to identify novel targets for ovarian cancer therapy. We performed RNA deep sequencing studies in cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Several RNA (messengers and long non-coding) were differentially abundant in cisplatin-resistant versus cisplatin sensitive cells. Many of these RNAs have not been previously studied in ovarian cancer. Therefore, we performed rigorous bioinformatic studies that included data filtering and survival rates (using Kaplan-Meier Plot Analysis) and IPA (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) to select essential candidate genes that can be used as potential targets for ovarian cancer therapy. Additional data filtering was used to choose a list of candidate genes whose expression correlates with the overall survival and progression-free survival of ovarian cancer patients. Twenty-seven resulting genes from our bioinformatics analysis were further evaluated by performing a small-interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing and cell growth/proliferation assays in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. Future experiments will investigate the biological consequences of targeting each of these candidate genes in ovarian cancer cells and ovarian cancer mouse models.

MiR-29c downregulates tumor-expressed B7-H3 to mediate the antitumor NK-cell functions in ovarian cancer

ObjectiveB7-H3 is a member of the B7 family of immune checkpoint molecule. Although B7-H3 has been shown to regulate T cell-mediated peripheral immune response, whether it also correlated with NK cell exhaustion in ovarian cancer remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of B7-H3 regulating NK-cell proliferation and function. Material and methodsTo investigate the relationship between B7-H3 expression and the NK-cell function in ovarian cancer, human ovarian tumor tissues and cell lines were first examined the protein and mRNA expression of B7-H3 by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Immunohistochemistry and Western-blot assays. Then we established B7-H3 knockout cell lines and measured the cytotoxicity of NK cells on these cells by LDH release assay and Flow Cytometry. In addition, we analyzed B7-H3 in the regulation of glycolysis and glycolysis-related proteins by Glycolysis Stress Test, Glucose Consumption Assay and Western-blot. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the directly regulation of miR-29c to B7-H3. Finally, we carried out in vivo experiments. ResultsWe observed that tumor-expressed B7-H3 inhibits NK-cell function in vitro and in vivo, and is associated with glycolysis of ovarian cancer cell. Therapeutically, B7-H3 blockade prolonged the survival of SKOV3 tumor-bearing mice. In addition, miR-29c improved the anti-tumor efficacy of NK-cell by directly targeting B7-H3 in vitro were observed, but not in vivo. ConclusionOur results demonstrate that miR-29c downregulates B7-H3 to inhibit NK-cell exhaustion and associated with glycolysis, which suggest that NK cells may be a new target of anti-B7-H3 therapy in ovarian cancer patients.

Quantitative proteomics revealed energy metabolism pathway alterations in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma and their regulation by the antiparasite drug ivermectin: data interpretation in the context of 3P medicine.

Energy metabolism abnormality is the hallmark in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). This study aimed to investigate energy metabolism pathway alterations and their regulation by the antiparasite drug ivermectin in EOC for the discovery of energy metabolism pathway-based molecular biomarker pattern and therapeutic targets in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM) in EOC. iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics was used to identify mitochondrial differentially expressed proteins (mtDEPs) between human EOC and control mitochondrial samples isolated from 8 EOC and 11 control ovary tissues from gynecologic surgery of Chinese patients, respectively. Stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based quantitative proteomics was used to analyze the protein expressions of energy metabolic pathways in EOC cells treated with and without ivermectin. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and important molecules in energy metabolism pathway were examined before and after ivermectin treatment of different EOC cells. In total, 1198 mtDEPs were identified, and various mtDEPs were related to energy metabolism changes in EOC, with an interesting result that EOC tissues had enhanced abilities in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), Kreb's cycle, and aerobic glycolysis, for ATP generation, with experiment-confirmed upregulations of UQCRH in OXPHOS; IDH2, CS, and OGDHL in Kreb's cycle; and PKM2 in glycolysis pathways. Importantly, PDHB that links glycolysis with Kreb's cycle was upregulated in EOC. SILAC-based quantitative proteomics found that the protein expression levels of energy metabolic pathways were regulated by ivermectin in EOC cells. Furthermore, ivermectin demonstrated its strong abilities to inhibit proliferation and cell cycle and promote apoptosis in EOC cells, through molecular networks to target PFKP in glycolysis; IDH2 and IDH3B in Kreb's cycle; ND2, ND5, CYTB, and UQCRH in OXPHOS; and MCT1 and MCT4 in lactate shuttle to inhibit EOC growth. Our findings revealed that the Warburg and reverse Warburg effects coexisted in human ovarian cancer tissues, provided the first multiomics-based molecular alteration spectrum of ovarian cancer energy metabolism pathways (aerobic glycolysis, Kreb's cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and lactate shuttle), and demonstrated that the antiparasite drug ivermectin effectively regulated these changed molecules in energy metabolism pathways and had strong capability to inhibit cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and promote cell apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. The observed molecular changes in energy metabolism pathways bring benefits for an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of energy metabolism heterogeneity and the discovery of effective biomarkers for individualized patient stratification and predictive/prognostic assessment and therapeutic targets/drugs for personalized therapy of ovarian cancer patients.

Anlotinib as Exploratory Therapy for Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Study on Efficacy and Safety.

PurposeSurvival of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) patients is significantly shortened to around 12 months. Anlotinib is a new multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib in PROC patients.Patients and MethodsPROC patients treated with anlotinib in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital between June 2018 to September 2019 were recruited. Most patients received an initial bolus of 12mg orally once daily on days 1–14 of a 21-day cycle (except one received a dose of 10mg and another one received a dose of 8mg orally once a day). The adverse events (AEs) and efficacy were analyzed by CTCAE 4.0 and RECIST 1.1.ResultsOf all 15 enrolled patients, 12 patients received anlotinib as multi-line therapy and 3 patients received it as maintenance therapy. In the multi-line therapy group, eight patients received anlotinib monotherapy and four patients received anlotinib combined with chemotherapy. Ultimately, evaluation showed that one patient achieved partial response (PR), five patients achieved stable disease (SD) and one patient had progressive disease (PD) with monotherapy, yielding objective response rate (ORR) of 14.3% (95% CI=0.01–0.58) and disease control rate (DCR) of 85.7% (95% CI=0.42–0.99). One patient achieved PR, two patients achieved SD with combination therapy, yielding ORR of 33.3% (95% CI=0.02–0.87) and DCR of 100% (95% CI=0.31–1.00). Three patients with maintenance therapy were followed up for 5, 8, and 11 months, respectively. The most grade 1–2 AEs were hand-foot syndrome, nausea, and hypertension. Serious AEs (SAEs) (Grade 3–4) were observed in one patient with oral ulcer and another patient with hand-foot syndrome that were managed by dose reduction.ConclusionAnlotinib was of promising efficacy and well tolerated in PROC patients. This is the first retrospective study about exploratory therapy for ovarian cancer patients with anlotinib.

Bevacizumab in maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer patients

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Growth and extension of the tumor are associated with active neoangiogenesis regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Bevacizumab decreases VEGF activity and inhibits the tumor growth.Purpose of the study. The aim of the study was to evaluate results of bevacizumab in maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer.Materials and methods. 26 patients with ovarian cancer received maintenance therapy with drop infusions of bevacizumab 15 mg/kg once a day for 21 days in 2014–2019 after completing chemotherapy for relapses.Results. Bevacizumab mainterned partial response or stabilization in 76.9% of patients. The adverse events were mainly of grades 1–2 (in 88.5% of all adverse events) and could be managed by an appropriate medical correction. Hemorrhagic complications caused the cancellation of bevacizumab in one patient.Conclusions. Bevacizumab in maintenance therapy after completing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer relapses (both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant) significantly improves the treatment results. The toxicity profile of bevacizumab in maintenance treatment is acceptable.

Abstract 5357: Total abdominal ultra-rapid FLASH irradiation enhances the efficacy of PD-1 inhibition in preclinical models of ovarian cancer

Abstract Objective: Ovarian cancer often presents with advanced stage disease. Despite surgery and chemotherapy, recurrence remains inevitable and prognosis poor. Advances in immunotherapy including programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibition show promise, however clinical trials show modest response rates as a single agent therapy in ovarian cancer patients. Radiation therapy is an attractive strategy to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in ovarian cancer due to its ability to increase tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and enhance immune activation. While ovarian cancer is known to be radiosensitive, total abdominal radiation is not routinely utilized due to high abdominopelvic toxicity. We have recently shown that ultra-high dose rate FLASH irradiation reduces intestinal radiation-induced toxicity. Importantly, we demonstrated efficient tumor control in preclinical models of ovarian cancer peritoneal metastasis. Here we sought to determine the efficacy and safety of FLASH irradiation combined with PD-1 inhibition in preclinical models of ovarian cancer. Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with ID8-Asc or UPK10 ovarian cancer cells. Total abdominal FLASH irradiation at 14 Gy was administered 10 days post-inoculation. Anti-PD-1 and isotype control antibodies were injected on days 7, 10, and 13 post-inoculation. Mice were sacrificed 22-27 days post-inoculation for tumor burden and immune cell analysis. Stool count, stool weight, complete blood count, and survival were evaluated to compare acute and chronic toxicity as well as efficacy in the treatment arms. Results: Four cohorts of mice were analyzed: Isotype control antibody (IgG), anti-PD-1 (aPD-1), FLASH + IgG, and FLASH + aPD-1. In the ID8-Asc model, irradiated mice showed a 44% decrease in solid stool production with subsequent recovery to baseline by 14 days post-treatment. There was no evidence of hematopoietic toxicity in any of the treatment arms. Survival analysis is ongoing. Exploratory necropsy demonstrated significant tumor burden control in the FLASH cohorts, and in particular, a 25-fold decrease in tumor number in the FLASH + aPD-1 cohort compared to control (mean tumor weight 1.82 mg vs. 357.2 mg, respectively). FLASH + aPD-1 increased intratumoral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and correlated with enhanced tumor control compared to FLASH or aPD-1 single agent treatments. Similar results were observed in the UPK10 model. Conclusion: Combination FLASH and PD-1 inhibition enhanced tumor control and recruitment of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes compared to IgG, aPD-1, and FLASH treatments alone, while demonstrating safety and tolerability. Our data identify a new opportunity for FLASH and checkpoint inhibition in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Citation Format: Stephanie Chow, Joshua T. Eggold, Karen Levy, Jinghui Wang, Rakesh Manjappa, Dylan Y. Breitkreutz, Amy S. Yu, Karl Bush, Oliver Dorigo, Billy W. Loo, Erinn B. Rankin. Total abdominal ultra-rapid FLASH irradiation enhances the efficacy of PD-1 inhibition in preclinical models of ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5357.

Abstract A57: Identification of novel targets for ovarian cancer treatment

Abstract Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases for the female reproductive system with 22,530 new cases and more than 13,980 deaths predicted for 2019 in the United States alone, according to the American Cancer Society. Currently, there is no effective therapy for ovarian cancer patients, in particular for those who become resistant to chemotherapy (cisplatin). We need to identify novel targets for ovarian cancer therapy. We performed RNA deep-sequencing studies in cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Several RNA (messengers and long noncoding) were differentially abundant in cisplatin-resistant versus cisplatin-sensitive cells. Many of these RNAs have not been previously studied in ovarian cancer. Therefore, we performed rigorous bioinformatic studies that included data filtering and survival rates (using Kaplan-Meier plot analysis) and IPA (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) to select key candidate genes that can be used as potential targets for ovarian cancer therapy. Additional data filtering was used to select a list of candidate genes whose expression correlates with the overall survival and progression-free survival of ovarian cancer patients. Future experiments will investigate the biologic consequence of targeting each of these candidate genes in ovarian cancer cells and ovarian cancer mouse models. Citation Format: Ricardo Noriega, Jeyshka Reyes, Blanca Quiñones, Joseline Serrano, Pablo Vivas, Josué Pérez. Identification of novel targets for ovarian cancer treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 13-16, 2019; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(13_Suppl):Abstract nr A57.

Current insights into the metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer - hopes and hurdles.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Despite various attempts to improve the diagnosis and therapy of ovarian cancer patients, the survival rate for these patients is still dismal, mainly because most of them are diagnosed at a late stage. Up to 90% of ovarian cancers arise from neoplastic transformation of ovarian surface epithelial cells, and are usually referred to as epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Unlike most human cancers, which are disseminated through blood-borne metastatic routes, EOC has traditionally been thought to be disseminated through direct migration of ovarian tumor cells to the peritoneal cavity and omentum via peritoneal fluid. It has recently been shown, however, that EOC can also be disseminated through blood-borne metastatic routes, challenging previous thoughts about ovarian cancer metastasis. Here, we review our current understanding of the most updated cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying EOC metastasis and discuss in more detail two main metastatic routes of EOC, i.e., transcoelomic metastasis and hematogenous metastasis. The emerging concept of blood-borne EOC metastasis has led to exploration of the significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as novel and non-invasive prognostic markers in this daunting cancer. We also evaluate the role of tumor stroma, including cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), endothelial cells, adipocytes, dendritic cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components in EOC growth and metastasis. Lastly, we discuss therapeutic approaches for targeting EOC. Unraveling the mechanisms underlying EOC metastasis will open up avenues to the design of new therapeutic options. For instance, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the hematogenous metastasis of EOC, the biology of CTCs, and the detailed mechanisms through which EOC cells take advantage of stromal cells may help to find new opportunities for targeting EOC metastasis.