The mechanism and clinical research progress on radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy in esophageal cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of main methods of comprehensive treatment of esophageal cancer (EC). It plays a dual role in the immune system and can activate systemic immune response. However, the effect of tumor cytotoxicity induced by RT is limited, and it can induce abscopal effect in combination with immunotherapy (IT). A number of clinical studies have shown the effect and great potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as PD-1/L1 antibodies in advanced EC. Besides, RT and ICIs exert a synergistic effect. Currently, multiple ongoing studies related to concurrent radiochemotherapy combined with IT is expected to determine the efficacy of this comprehensive treatment in EC and elucidate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness.