UVA’s microbiome research may reveal new treatment option for ovarian cancer
Immune therapies have revolutionized cancer care, yet ovarian cancer tumors have been stubbornly resistant to immune checkpoint therapy. With the support of UVA’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Melanie Rutkowski, associate professor of UVA’s School of Medicine and a leading microbiome researcher, was determined to find out why.
Dr. Rutkowski and her research team found answers in how bacteria in the microbiome can confuse the immune system from recognizing ovarian cancer tumors. In early lab tests, they discovered how to block this chaotic signaling to restore the effectiveness of immune checkpoint therapy for controlling the growth of ovarian cancer tumors. Translating this lab discovery into clinical care could change the treatment for ovarian cancer and give patients the greatest gift – more time.