Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant
The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has facilitated the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the remote effects observed in tumor therapy and has demonstrated significant promise for treating several advanced tumors. However, the natural resistance of “cold tumors” remains a...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1611036/full |
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| author | Yao Liao Yao Liao Jinjing Deng Xiyue Yang Xiyue Yang Decai Wang Xiaobo Du Xiaobo Du |
| author_facet | Yao Liao Yao Liao Jinjing Deng Xiyue Yang Xiyue Yang Decai Wang Xiaobo Du Xiaobo Du |
| author_sort | Yao Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has facilitated the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the remote effects observed in tumor therapy and has demonstrated significant promise for treating several advanced tumors. However, the natural resistance of “cold tumors” remains a challenge that ICIs alone cannot overcome. Radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to enhance anti-tumor immunity by generating in situ antigens or antigenic fragments derived from tumor cells and local immune cell DNA, thereby attracting more immune-presenting cells to the tumor site. This process promotes the conversion of immune cells into anti-tumor effector cells and enhances the efficacy of ICIs, most likely reflecting the mechanism of the abscopal effect (ABE). Alternatively, ABE achieves optimal efficacy when anti-tumor effects synergistically enhance systemic immunity. This review delineates the molecular mechanisms underlying the distant compartment effect and summarizes clinical studies on enhancing immune checkpoint inhibitors through various RT techniques. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b2f5311431334fcdb4ea08f2e8ed8dbd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b2f5311431334fcdb4ea08f2e8ed8dbd2025-08-20T03:28:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-07-011510.3389/fonc.2025.16110361611036Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignantYao Liao0Yao Liao1Jinjing Deng2Xiyue Yang3Xiyue Yang4Decai Wang5Xiaobo Du6Xiaobo Du7Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Radiation and Therapy, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Sichuan Science City Hospital, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaSichuan Clinical Research Center for Radiation and Therapy, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaSichuan Clinical Research Center for Radiation and Therapy, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, ChinaThe introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has facilitated the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the remote effects observed in tumor therapy and has demonstrated significant promise for treating several advanced tumors. However, the natural resistance of “cold tumors” remains a challenge that ICIs alone cannot overcome. Radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to enhance anti-tumor immunity by generating in situ antigens or antigenic fragments derived from tumor cells and local immune cell DNA, thereby attracting more immune-presenting cells to the tumor site. This process promotes the conversion of immune cells into anti-tumor effector cells and enhances the efficacy of ICIs, most likely reflecting the mechanism of the abscopal effect (ABE). Alternatively, ABE achieves optimal efficacy when anti-tumor effects synergistically enhance systemic immunity. This review delineates the molecular mechanisms underlying the distant compartment effect and summarizes clinical studies on enhancing immune checkpoint inhibitors through various RT techniques.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1611036/fullmalignant tumorsimmune checkpoint inhibitorsradiotherapytumor therapycold tumors |
| spellingShingle | Yao Liao Yao Liao Jinjing Deng Xiyue Yang Xiyue Yang Decai Wang Xiaobo Du Xiaobo Du Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant Frontiers in Oncology malignant tumors immune checkpoint inhibitors radiotherapy tumor therapy cold tumors |
| title | Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant |
| title_full | Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant |
| title_fullStr | Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant |
| title_short | Advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant |
| title_sort | advances in radiotherapy enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in malignant |
| topic | malignant tumors immune checkpoint inhibitors radiotherapy tumor therapy cold tumors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1611036/full |
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