SURGERY-INDUCED CHANGES IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS IN OVARIAN CANCER

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the eighth most common cancer in women worldwide and is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in a 5-year survival rate of approximately 49%. Cytoreductive surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment; however, it induces substantial tissue injury and systemic immune alterations that may facilitate metastatic progression. Despite the recognized importance of the immune system in OC pathogenesis, early postoperative immune changes remain insufficiently characterized. This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate postoperative alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 23 women with stage III–IV OC undergoing cytoreductive surgery, compared with 23 controls. Peripheral blood cell composition, PBMC subpopulations and functional markers, cytokine expression in PBMCs, and corresponding serum cytokine levels were analyzed. The findings demonstrate significant systemic immune suppression and features of a tumor-promoting immune profile in OC patients, persisting and further evolving during the early postoperative period.