Longevity & Aging

Radiotherapy Plus Immunotherapy Shows Promise for Cancer Treatment

This comprehensive review examines immuno-radiotherapy (iRT), which combines radiation treatment with immunotherapies like checkpoint inhibitors. The approach leverages radiation's ability to stimulate immune responses while immunotherapy removes immune system brakes. Preclinical studies show promising abscopal effects—where treating one tumor shrinks distant untreated tumors. However, clinical translation remains challenging, with researchers identifying seven key factors that influence success: radiation dose and timing, treatment sequencing, radiation field size, radiation type, normal tissue effects, lesion selection, and biomarker identification.