BACKGROUND : Ovarian cancer is a lethal gynecological malignancy worldwide. The immune system plays a key role in preventing tumor development. Angiogenesis and immune evasion are vital for ovarian cancer progression and metastasis.
AIM: This work aimed to evaluate the expression of PD-L1, VEGF and CD8 +T cells in ovarian serous carcinomas and correlate them with clinicopathological variables.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: An Immunohistochemical study was performed on 50 cases of ovarian serous carcinomas.
RESULTS: PD-L1 & VEGF were over-expressed in higher grade, advanced stage , case with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis .Higher CD8+ T cells in epithelium and stroma was related to advanced stage, only intraepithelial CD8+ T cells was directly correlated with tumor grade & lymph node metastasis positive correlation between PD-L1 & VEGF and Intraepithelial CD8+T cells was detected.
CONCLUSION: Neoplastic cells expressing PD-L1 and VEGF along with intraepithelial CD8+T cells might expect poor prognosis. An association between PD-L1 and VEGF could predict their role in immune evasion. Administration of immunotherapy (anti PD-L1) with antiangiogenic agents might increase antitumor activity. To enhance our knowledge about the immunological environment of epithelial ovarian tumors requires larger-scale studies.