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Aggressive ovarian cancers are deadly in part because they block a patient’s immune system from recognizing the tumor. This is why immunotherapy frequently fails. A new study suggests scientists may have found a way to remove that shield.

UC-San Diego oncologists discover that many ovarian tumors produce high levels of a protein called FAK, focal adhesion kinase, which helps cancer cells hide from immune killer cells.

When the researchers block FAK protein production and add chemotherapy in animal studies, an important synergy develops:

• More immune T cells and B cells converge on the tumor.

• Tumor growth slows.

• Survival improves.

Even more interesting, blocking FAK reprograms immune macrophages so they begin sending signals that recruit other immune cells to attack the tumor.

The bottom line: if randomized clinical studies confirm that combining effective chemotherapy with FAK inhibitors that energize immunotherapy creates a more powerful strategy against advanced ovarian cancer, we could see more women successfully fighting this deadly cancer….someday soon.

#OvarianCancer #CancerResearch #Immunotherapy #MedicalBreakthrough #FutureMedicine

OvarianCancer, CancerResearch, Immunotherapy, MedicalBreakthrough, FutureMedicine