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Clinical and Translational Oncology
Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology 12/2020

01-12-2020 | Radiotherapy | Review Article

Tumor microenvironment, immune response and post-radiotherapy tumor clearance

Authors: M. I. Koukourakis, A. Giatromanolaki

Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology | Issue 12/2020

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Abstract

Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for many cancer patients. Residual tumor leads to local recurrence after a period of an equilibrium created between proliferating, quiescent and dying cancer cells. The tumor microenvironment is a main obstacle for the efficacy of radiotherapy, as impaired blood flow leads to hypoxia, acidity and reduced accessibility of radiosensitizers. Eradication of remnant disease is an intractable clinical quest. After more than a century of research, anti-tumor immunity has gained a dominant position in oncology research and therapy. Immune cells play a significant role in the eradication of tumors during and after the completion of radiotherapy. The tumor equilibrium reached in the irradiated tumor may shift towards cancer cell eradication if the immune response is appropriately modulated. In the modern immunotherapy era, clinical trials are urged to standardize immunotherapy schemes that could be safely applied to improve clearance of the post-radiotherapy remnant disease.
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Metadata
Title
Tumor microenvironment, immune response and post-radiotherapy tumor clearance
Authors
M. I. Koukourakis
A. Giatromanolaki
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Keyword
Radiotherapy
Published in
Clinical and Translational Oncology / Issue 12/2020
Print ISSN: 1699-048X
Electronic ISSN: 1699-3055
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-020-02378-8

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