Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, largely due to its late-stage diagnosis and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). A key mediator of immune evasion in ovarian cancer is the infiltration and activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress antitumor imm...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1631226/full |
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| author | Jing Li Haojun Huang Renxian Xie Rongying Yang Haitao Wang Li Wan |
| author_facet | Jing Li Haojun Huang Renxian Xie Rongying Yang Haitao Wang Li Wan |
| author_sort | Jing Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, largely due to its late-stage diagnosis and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). A key mediator of immune evasion in ovarian cancer is the infiltration and activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress antitumor immunity and foster therapeutic resistance. Emerging therapeutic strategies to target Tregs—such as cytokine modulation, checkpoint blockade, metabolic inhibitors, and epigenetic regulators—are critically evaluated for their potential to restore antitumor immunity. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding how the ovarian TME shapes Treg biology, highlighting mechanisms such as cytokine signaling, chemokine-driven recruitment, metabolic reprogramming, and immune checkpoint interactions, as well as the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of tumor-infiltrating Tregs, including tissue-resident and follicular subsets, and their clonal expansion in response to tumor antigens. By elucidating the dynamic crosstalk between Tregs and the ovarian TME, this review provides a framework for developing novel immunotherapies to overcome Treg-mediated immunosuppression and improve clinical outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e46d7e86e2948c8a541e10e702b30d3 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e46d7e86e2948c8a541e10e702b30d32025-07-09T05:37:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16312261631226Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancerJing Li0Haojun Huang1Renxian Xie2Rongying Yang3Haitao Wang4Li Wan5Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaThe School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, ChinaOvarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, largely due to its late-stage diagnosis and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). A key mediator of immune evasion in ovarian cancer is the infiltration and activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress antitumor immunity and foster therapeutic resistance. Emerging therapeutic strategies to target Tregs—such as cytokine modulation, checkpoint blockade, metabolic inhibitors, and epigenetic regulators—are critically evaluated for their potential to restore antitumor immunity. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding how the ovarian TME shapes Treg biology, highlighting mechanisms such as cytokine signaling, chemokine-driven recruitment, metabolic reprogramming, and immune checkpoint interactions, as well as the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of tumor-infiltrating Tregs, including tissue-resident and follicular subsets, and their clonal expansion in response to tumor antigens. By elucidating the dynamic crosstalk between Tregs and the ovarian TME, this review provides a framework for developing novel immunotherapies to overcome Treg-mediated immunosuppression and improve clinical outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1631226/fullregulatory T cellovarian cancerimmunosuppressionmetabolic reprogrammingimmune checkpoint blockade |
| spellingShingle | Jing Li Haojun Huang Renxian Xie Rongying Yang Haitao Wang Li Wan Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancer Frontiers in Immunology regulatory T cell ovarian cancer immunosuppression metabolic reprogramming immune checkpoint blockade |
| title | Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancer |
| title_full | Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancer |
| title_fullStr | Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancer |
| title_short | Immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells in ovarian cancer |
| title_sort | immunosuppressive mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of regulatory t cells in ovarian cancer |
| topic | regulatory T cell ovarian cancer immunosuppression metabolic reprogramming immune checkpoint blockade |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1631226/full |
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