Exploring the application of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Although standard treatment regimens, including cytoreductive surgery combined with platinum-based chemotherapy, have achieved certain therapeutic advances, the high recurrence rate and the emergence of platinum resistance continue to represent significant clinical challenges. This highlights the urgent need to explore novel therapeutic strategies.As an emerging modality of immunotherapy, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors enhance anti-tumor immune responses by modulating the immune system. Although ovarian cancer has traditionally been regarded as a tumor with low immunogenicity, studies have demonstrated that the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the expression of PD-L1 indicate a potential response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.This review focuses on the application of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the treatment of ovarian cancer, summarizing their mechanisms of action, clinical research progress, potential combination strategies, and future perspectives. A deeper understanding of the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in ovarian cancer will contribute to optimizing therapeutic strategies and improving patient outcomes. Despite the potential of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in ovarian cancer treatment, overcoming resistance mechanisms, refining patient selection criteria, and improving safety profiles remain key challenges for clinical application.