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The role of combined radiation and immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment

  • Review
  • Published:
Journal of Radiation Oncology

Abstract

Background

Interest in harnessing the power of the host immune system to combat breast cancer recently has gained significant momentum. A growing body of evidence suggests that combined radiation therapy (RT) and immunotherapy synergistically activate a systemic immune response.

Methods

A review of original research, pre-clinical, retrospective, and prospective clinical studies was performed to assess the existing evidence to support a role for combined immunoradiotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer.

Results

Substantial evidence supports a synergism in combined immunoradiotherapy approaches. In this role, RT serves not only as a potent mediator of local control but also as an important component of systemic disease control. Actively accruing clinical trials aim to further define the clinical impact of immunoradiotherapeutic approaches in breast cancer.

Conclusions

This review provides an overview of the interplay between RT and emerging oncoimmunotherapy strategies and provides a biological explanation for their synergy in the treatment of breast cancer. More robust nationally funded studies are indicated.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Hospital/Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, 6565 Fannin, Ste# DB1-077, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Andrew Farach, E. Brian Butler & Bin S. Teh

  2. Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA

    Mary C. Farach-Carson

  3. Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA

    Mary C. Farach-Carson

  4. Methodist Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Jenny C. Chang

Authors
  1. Andrew Farach
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  2. Mary C. Farach-Carson
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  5. Bin S. Teh
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Correspondence to Andrew Farach.

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Farach, A., Farach-Carson, M.C., Butler, E.B. et al. The role of combined radiation and immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment. J Radiat Oncol 4, 347–354 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13566-015-0216-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13566-015-0216-5

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