Immunogenic cell death unlocks the potential for combined radiation and immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) enhances antitumor immunity by releasing tumor-associated antigens and activating the antitumor immune system response. Here, we develop a mathematical model to quantify the role of ICD in optimizing the efficacy of combined radiotherapy (RT) and macrophage-based immunotherapy. Using preclinical murine data targeting the SIRP[Formula: see text]-CD47 checkpoint, we show that RT alone induces minimal ICD, whereas disrupting the SIRP[Formula: see text]-CD47 axis significantly enhances both phagocytosis and systemic immune activation. Our model predicts an optimal RT dose (6 to 8 Gy) for maximizing ICD, a dose-dependent abscopal effect, and a hierarchy of treatment efficacy, with SIRP[Formula: see text]-knockout macrophages exhibiting the strongest tumoricidal acti

SUBMITTER: Rauf S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12685091 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature