Barzilai University Medical Center

115 Research Day 2020 Barzilai University Medical Center 82 RADIATION THERAPY AND IMMUNOTHERAPY—A POTENTIAL COMBINATION IN CANCER TREATMENT Asna N 1 , Livoff A 2 , Batash R 3 , Debbi R 3 , Schaffer P 4 , Rivkind T 1 , Schaffer M 1 . 1 Department of Oncology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. 2 Department of Pathology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. 3 Department of Orthopedics, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. 4 Department of Radiation Therapy, Bad Trissl, Oberaudorf, Germany, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oradea, Romania Background Radiation therapy ( RT ) is a longstanding treatment modality for cancer. In addition, immune checkpoint blockade has been a significant development in the field of immunotherapy, modifying key immunosuppressive pathways of cancer cells. Hypothesis The combination of radiation therapy with immunotherapy can achieve better outcome via the abscopal effect mechanism. Objectives The aim of the present work was to review current concepts of RT and immunotherapy synergism, the abscopal effect, and the molecular effects of RT in the tumour microenvironment, its influence on immune stimulation, and potential clinical outcomes that might evolve from ongoing studies. We also discuss potential predictors of clinical response. Results Up-to-date literature concerning the mechanisms, interactions, and latest knowledge about RT and immunotherapy was reviewed and summarized, and is presented here. Conclusions The possibility of using hyperfractionated RT to combine an abscopal effect with the enhanced effect of immune treatment using checkpoint blockade is a very promising method for future tumour treatments.