Synergizing systemic responses by combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: The potential of the abscopal effect

In recent years, treatment and prognosis for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has changed profoundly due to introduction of immunotherapy. Blocking the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed death 1 (PD-1) pathway has become a new cornerstone in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients, especially for those without targetable mutations. PD-L1 is mainly expressed by macrophages and endothelial cells, but also in a wide variety of solid tumors [1 –3]. Binding of PD-L1 to its receptor PD-1 on T cells or antigen presenting cells (APC) activates an inhibitory signal leading to apoptosis or inactivation of these immune cells, thereby allowing tumors to evade the host immune response.
Source: Lung Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research