Immune Priming of the Tumor Microenvironment by Radiation

Wen Jiang, Charles K. Chan, Irving L. Weissman, Betty Y.S. Kim, Stephen M. Hahn

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ionizing irradiation can induce a multitude of alterations within the tumor microenvironment. Unlike targeted therapies, radiation delivered to the tumor bed can prompt phenotypic changes in both normal stromal and cancer cells, leading to molecular and physiological alterations within the tumor microenvironment. These environmental modulations directly influence the degree of immunogenicity of the tumor microenvironment and may ultimately affect tumor responsiveness to cancer immunotherapies. Here we review the preclinical evidence for tumor microenvironment-mediated immune suppression and how radiation can modulate immune properties within a tumor. We then discuss the therapeutic opportunities for combining radiation with molecular agents to enhance tumor immunogenicity and how this represents a potential exciting strategy to complement immunotherapies including immune checkpoint blockers in cancer treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)638-645
Number of pages8
JournalTrends in Cancer
Volume2
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • abscopal effect
  • cancer immunotherapy
  • immune checkpoint inhibitor
  • immunogenic cell death
  • radioimmunotherapy
  • radiotherapy
  • tumor microenvironment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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