title: Combining radiation and immunotherapy: a new systemic therapy for solid tumors?
abstract: With the recent success of checkpoint inhibitors and other immunomodulating agents, there has been renewed interest in the combination of such agents with radiation. The biologic premise behind such a strategy is that the tumor-antigen release achieved by localized radiation will promote specific tumor targeting by the adaptive immune system, which can be augmented further by systemic immune-stimulating agents. In this manner, clinicians hope to induce a phenomenon known as the abscopal effect, whereby localized radiation results in immune-mediated tumor regression in disease sites well outside of the radiation field. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the early clinical and preclinical evidence behind this approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Hendrick
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seyedin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Maria Angelica
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Erminia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Massarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Aung
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naing
authors.affiliation: Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Huiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heymach
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Ristuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Padmanee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. JWelsh@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Welsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm