Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD, professor of medicine in Hematology/Oncology, co-leader of the Hillman Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, and director of Translational Immunotherapy for the Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, discusses the incidence and treatment of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in ovarian cancer.

Slight differences in the toxicity profiles may exist among immune checkpoint inhibitors across tumor types. However, largely, irAEs have a similar presentation because the agents treat the immune system rather than the tumor itself, explains Emens.

Patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors can develop serious irAEs such as pneumonitis or colitis. As such, patients should be monitored closely for symptoms that are consistent with irAEs, so that steroids can be given as soon as possible, concludes Emens.

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Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD, discusses the incidence and treatment of immune-related adverse events in ovarian cancer.

Dr. Emens on Immune-Related Adverse Events in Ovarian Cancer

Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, Hematology/Oncology, co-leader, Hillman Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, director, Translational Immunotherapy for the Women’s Cancer Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, discusses the combination of checkpoint inhibitors and PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer.

Many physicians and researchers are testing the same checkpoint inhibitors in ovarian cancer and, so far, there has not been a strong signal with them in this patient population. This is interesting because ovarian cancer is known to have tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and evidence of immune activation. There appears to be something biologically unique about ovarian cancer that makes it more difficult to respond to therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, says Emens.

Combinations are going to be one way to get a response to therapy with checkpoint inhibitors. One of these combinations comprises PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in combination with a PARP inhibitor. There were early data to suggest that durvalumab (Imfinzi) has some activity in ovarian cancer. There was a phase III trial that was terminated early for futility and, unfortunately, did not show evidence of activity. However, there is still a lot of interest in developing immunotherapeutic options in ovarian cancer, concludes Emens.

Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD, discusses the combination of checkpoint inhibitors and PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer.
 

Dr. Emens on Combining Checkpoint Inhibitors With PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, Hematology/Oncology, co-leader, Hillman Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, director, Translational Immunotherapy for the Women’s Cancer Research Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, discusses a potential future with immunotherapy in ovarian cancer.  

It is understood that moving immunotherapy to the frontline setting elicits greater efficacy for women with ovarian cancer, explains Emens. Additionally, PD-L1—positive patients derive a greater benefit from the agents currently available in this space.

As such, the future of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer requires a good signal of activity with available agents. Clinical trials that incorporate biomarker analyses may allow investigators to better predict which patients are more likely to respond to this modality of treatment, concludes Emens.

Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD, discusses a potential future with immunotherapy in ovarian cancer.

Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD

Articles

Dr. Emens on Immune-Related Adverse Events in Ovarian Cancer

Dr. Emens on Combining Checkpoint Inhibitors With PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Dr. Emens on the Future of Immunotherapy in Ovarian Cancer