Title:Immunotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Volume: 21
Issue: 14
Author(s): Veronica Mollica, Matteo Santoni, Vincenzo Di Nunno, Alessia Cimadamore, Liang Cheng, Antonio Lopez-Beltran, Nicola Battelli, Rodolfo Montironi and Francesco Massari*
Affiliation:
- Division of Oncology, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna,Italy
Keywords:
Renal cell carcinoma, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, abscopal effect, immune checkpoint-inhibitors, PD-1/PD-L1
inhibitors.
Abstract:
Background: The management of renal cell carcinoma is rapidly evolving and immunotherapy,
mostly consisting of immune checkpoint inhibitors, is revolutionizing the treatment scenario
of metastatic patients. Novel fractionation schedules of radiotherapy, consisting of high doses in few
fractions, can overcome the radioresistance of this tumor. Localized radiotherapy is associated with a
systemic effect, known as the abscopal effect. This effect mediated by the immune system can be enhanced
associating radiotherapy with immunotherapy.
Objective: In this review, we explore the role of radiotherapy and immunotherapy in RCC, the rationale
of combining these strategies and the on-going clinical trials investigating combinations of these
two treatment modalities.
Conclusion: Combining immunotherapy and radiotherapy has a strong rationale and pre-clinical studies
support their association because it can overcome the immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment
and increase the anti-tumor immune response. More clinical evidence, deriving from onclinical
trials, are needed to prove the efficacy and safety of these treatments combined.