Anti-PD-1/Anti-PD-L1 Drugs and Radiation Therapy: Combinations and Optimization Strategies.

ABSTRACT: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been associated with long-term complete responses leading to improved overall survival in several cancer types. However, these novel immunotherapies are only effective in a small proportion of patients, and therapeutic resistance represents a major limitation in clinical practice. As with chemotherapy, there is substantial evidence that radiation therapy promotes anti-tumor immune responses that can enhance systemic responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we discuss the main preclinical and clinical evidence on strategies that can lead to an enhanced response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in combination with radiation therapy. We focused on central issues in optimizing radiation therapy, such as the optimal dose and fractionation for improving

SUBMITTER: Boustani J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8508444 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature