Mechanism of synergy of radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

01/2020 Special Edition

MUDr. Milan Vošmik, Ph.D.

Klinika onkologie a radioterapie, LF UK a FN Hradec Králové

SUMMARY

Modern immunotherapy using immune check-point inhibitors has experienced a huge boom in routine clinical practice. In preclinical and clinical practice, synergy of immunotherapy and radiotherapy is observed. The reason is the ability of radiotherapy to activate anti-tumor immunity, even outside the irradiated tumor (abscopal effect). Activated anti-tumor immunity is one of the important conditions for the therapeutic effect of immune check-point inhibitors.

Key words

immunotherapy, immune check-point inhibitor, radiotherapy, abscopal effect