Lighting up the tumor fire with low-dose irradiation

Fernanda G Herrera; Pedro Romero; George Coukos

doi:10.1016/j.it.2022.01.006

Lighting up the tumor fire with low-dose irradiation

Trends Immunol. 2022 Mar;43(3):173-179. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2022.01.006. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Authors

Fernanda G Herrera¹, Pedro Romero², George Coukos³

Affiliations

¹ Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Radiation Oncology Service, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland; Immuno-oncology Service, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: Fernanda.Herrera@chuv.ch.
² Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Immuno-oncology Service, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
³ Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Immuno-oncology Service, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: George.Coukos@chuv.ch.

PMID: 35105519
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2022.01.006

Abstract

Current efforts combining immunotherapy and radiation have focused on high-dose radiation delivered to few tumor lesions, aiming to generate diffuse abscopal effects; however, these effects are uncommon in patients. Three recent studies in mouse tumor models and human cancer patients show that low-dose radiation (LDRT) delivered to all tumor lesions effectively mobilizes innate and adaptive immunity and synergizes with immunotherapy. These new findings suggest LDRT's potential as an immune amplifier capable of reprogramming the tumor microenvironment, instigating inflammation, and sensitizing 'cold' tumors to immune checkpoint blockade responsiveness.

Keywords: CD40L; CTLA-4; PD-1; immune checkpoint inhibitors; immunotherapy; low-dose radiation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Adaptive Immunity
Animals
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Immunotherapy
Mice
Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
Tumor Microenvironment