Clinical trials exploring the benefit of immunotherapy and radiation in cancer treatment: A review of the past and a look into the future

Curr Probl Cancer. 2016 Jan-Feb;40(1):38-67. doi: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2015.10.002. Epub 2015 Dec 4.

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy is rapidly redefining the standard of cancer care. The role of radiation therapy in eliciting antitumoral immune response is also being actively investigated in combination with various immunotherapeutic agents to exploit potential synergy between the 2 modalities. In this review, we summarize the rationale and results of past and ongoing clinical trials that combined the use of radiation therapy and immunogenic agents such as vaccines, cytokines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, costimulatory agonists, and myeloid activators.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Radiotherapy / methods*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Cancer Vaccines