The new “Cancer Immunogram” is a framework proposed for describing the different interactions between cancer and the immune system in individual cases, with the aim to focus biomarker research and to help guide treatment choice on a more patient specific approach.

The last years we have used much efforts to establish relevant mouse models for ovarian cancer, and a bioluminescent orthotopic combined surgical/chemotherapeutic xenograft model in immunosuppressed mice has been developed. New knowledge and demands necessitate, however, improvements. Immune-competent patient-derived xenograft (iPDX) models are suggested to be the most suitable preclinical models. These models contain both a functional human immune system as well as an orthotopically-implanted tumor from the same individual.

The main focus of INOvA is to establish Innovative Novel Ovarian Cancer Treatment Approaches. We aim to establish our own “cancer immunogram” with specific parameters, to identify interesting biomarker/immunotherapeutic targets, to be able to stratify patients based on the immunogram scoring system and to propose treatment options accordingly.

We are also focusing on developing an Immunocompetent Patient Derived Xenograft model (iPDX). Further, we would like to analyse if the developed iPDX models i) Conserve genetic, phenotypic and functional characteristics of the primary tumor ii) Represent a precise and predictive preclinical model to improve image-guided surgery iii) to test the in vivo efficacy of the identified candidate biomarkers and also to validate the accuracy of the immunotherapeutic treatment option proposed based on the immunogram.