Stromal-immune interactions promote immune suppression in intraperitoneal metastasis of ovarian carcinoma

Most patients (75%) are diagnosed at advanced disease stages, with widespread peritoneal dissemination leading to poor prognosis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were shown to modulate the immune microenvironment in multiple cancer types.

However, their interactions with immune cells and their role in facilitating peritoneal metastasis in ovarian cancer are largely unresolved. Here, we characterized the interactions between fibroblasts and immune cells that facilitate the formation of a hospitable niche in metastatic peritoneal ovarian cancer. We isolated and characterized CAFs from HGSC patients and mouse models, and investigated the events that promote peritoneal metastases.