title: The synergistic effect of radiotherapy and immunotherapy: A promising but not simple partnership.
abstract: Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the main components in the treatment of cancer. The better understanding of the immune mechanisms associated with tumor establishment and how RT affects inflammation and immunity has led to the development of novel treatment strategies. Several preclinical studies support the use of RT in combination with immunotherapy obtaining better local and systemic tumor control. Current ongoing studies will provide information about the optimal RT approach, but the development of reliable predictors of the response from the preclinical and the early phases of clinical studies is necessary to avoid discarding treatment strategies with significant clinical benefit. This review summarize the current concepts of the synergism between RT and immunotherapy, the molecular effects of RT in the tumor microenvironment, their impact on immune activation and its potential clinical applications in trials exploring this important therapeutic opportunity. Finally, the potential predictors of clinical response are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Eugene Marquis, Rennes, F-35000, France. Electronic address: e.chajon@rennes.unicancer.fr.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chajon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Eugene Marquis, Rennes, F-35000, France; Université de Rennes 1, LTSI, INSERM, Rennes U1099, France.
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Instituto Oncologico Fundacion Arturo Lopez Perez, Santiago de Chile, 7500921, Chile.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marsiglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Eugene Marquis, Rennes, F-35000, France; Université de Rennes 1, LTSI, INSERM, Rennes U1099, France.
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Crevoisier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000528:radiation effects; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
keywords: Immunogenic cell death; Immunotherapy; Radiotherapy; SBRT