Combination of Radiotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
The ability of ionizing radiation to cause cell death and inflammatory reactions has been known since the beginning of its therapeutic use in oncology. However, only recently this property of radiation has attracted the attention of immunologists seeking to induce or improve antitumor immunity. As immune checkpoint inhibitors are becoming mainstream cancer treatments, radiation oncologists have begun to observe unexpected out-of-the-field (abscopal) responses in patients receiving radiation therapy during immunotherapy.
Source: Seminars in Radiation Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Karsten A. Pilones, Claire Vanpouille-Box, Sandra Demaria Source Type: research