Combinations of Immunotherapy and Radiation in Cancer Therapy

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2014 Dec 16

PMID 25506582

Citations 122

Authors

Ralph E Vatner

Benjamin T Cooper

Claire Vanpouille-Box

Sandra Demaria

Silvia C Formenti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The immune system has the ability to recognize and specifically reject tumors, and tumors only become clinically apparent once they have evaded immune destruction by creating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Radiotherapy (RT) can cause immunogenic tumor cell death resulting in cross-priming of tumor-specific T-cells, acting as an in situ tumor vaccine; however, RT alone rarely induces effective anti-tumor immunity resulting in systemic tumor rejection. Immunotherapy can complement RT to help overcome tumor-induced immune suppression, as demonstrated in pre-clinical tumor models. Here, we provide the rationale for combinations of different immunotherapies and RT, and review the pre-clinical and emerging clinical evidence for these combinations in the treatment of cancer.

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