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Encyclopedia of Cancer pp 1–4Cite as

Abscopal Effects

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Synonyms

ab (Latin: away) -scopus (Greek: target) effects; Away from the target effects; Distant bystander effects; Non-targeted effects; Out of field effects; Tumor rejection of non-irradiated tumor areas

Definition

Abscopal effects describe nontargeted, radiotherapy (RT)-induced tumor regression in lesions or tumor or metastatic regions distant from the irradiated site.

Characteristics

More than 50 % of patients with solid tumors are treated with radiotherapy either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Apart from direct cytotoxic effects of radiation therapy which are predominantly caused by the deposition of low and high LET (Radiosensitization) energy to the nucleus and DNA (DNA Damage; DNA Damage Response; DNA Damage-Induced Apoptosis; Repair of DNA), non-(DNA)-targeting radiation effects that result in tumor regression in lesions distant from the irradiated tumor have been described. These so-called abscopal effects, firstly described by Mole in 1953 (Whole body...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinikum rechts der Isar, Department Radiation Oncology, TU München and CCG – “Innate Immunity in Tumor Biology”, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany

    Gabriele Multhoff

Authors
  1. Gabriele Multhoff
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriele Multhoff .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abt. Tumorgenetik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Multhoff, G. (2014). Abscopal Effects. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_7217-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_7217-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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