Radiotherapy and immunotherapy: open questions and future strategies

Kelli B Pointer; Sean P Pitroda; Ralph R Weichselbaum

doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2021.10.003

Radiotherapy and immunotherapy: open questions and future strategies

Trends Cancer. 2022 Jan;8(1):9-20. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.10.003. Epub 2021 Nov 2.

Authors

Kelli B Pointer¹, Sean P Pitroda², Ralph R Weichselbaum³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
² Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: spitroda@radonc.uchicago.edu.
³ Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: rrw@radonc.uchicago.edu.

PMID: 34740553
DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.10.003

Abstract

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) improves outcomes for some patients with advanced or metastatic cancers. Despite demonstrable progress, many patients do not respond to ICB. Recently, clinical trials have focused on combinations of ICB with radiation therapy. Although two recent Phase III randomized trials demonstrated improved survival with adjuvant ICB following chemoradiation, other Phase I/II/III trials are either negative or inconclusive, but do yield suggestive results and promising insights into future therapeutic strategies. We provide a selective review of a subset of these trials and attempt to integrate with basic laboratory findings where relevant to define issues pertaining to the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Keywords: immune checkpoint blockade; immunotherapy; radiation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Chemoradiotherapy
Combined Modality Therapy
Humans
Immunotherapy* / methods
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Neoplasms* / radiotherapy