Ricerc@Sapienza

The immune system is known to play a pivotal role in cancer pathogenesis.
In a dynamic balance between immune system and cancer cells, the first one recognizes
the second as non-self and effectively clears them from the system. This phenomenon,
called immune surveillance, is based on the interaction between antigen
presenting cells and T lymphocytes that get activated eliciting a specific and enduring
response. In certain circumstances, tumor cells are able to evade this mechanism
allowing the tumor to develop. This mechanism is called tumor escape.
The role of immunotherapy is to restore a balance between immune system and
tumor cells by boosting the former. In the past, drugs that work on the immune system
in various malignancies have shown striking result, in both response rates and
survival, which has led to their FDA approval. The use of these new drugs is currently
being investigated with promising results in various other settings, including
gynecological malignancies. The definition of immunotherapy encompasses various treatment strategies that
include tumor antigen–targeted monoclonal antibodies, immunological checkpoint
inhibitors, cytokines, and therapeutic cancer vaccines. These treatments differ as
they use distinct mechanisms of actions. However, they all share the fact that their
anti-tumor effect is exerted through a boost or a restoration of the immune system.
Owing to its potential to affect mutating cancer cells through the dynamic interplay
between cancer and the immune system, immunotherapy offers the potential
for durable clinical effects and synergy with subsequent therapies.