The mechanism and clinical research progress on radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy in esophageal cancer

VernacularTitle:食管癌放疗联合免疫治疗作用机制及临床研究进展
Author: Linrui GAO ¹ ; Zefen XIAO
Author Information

1. 国家癌症中心/国家肿瘤临床医学研究中心/中国医学科学院北京协和医学院肿瘤医院放疗科，北京　100021
Keywords: Esophageal cancer/Radiotherapy; Esophageal cancer/Concurrent radiochemotherapy combined with immunotherapy; Immune checkpoint inhibitor; PD-1/L1
From: Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2022;31(5):462-467
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Radiation therapy (RT) is one of main methods of comprehensive treatment of esophageal cancer (EC). It plays a dual role in the immune system and can activate systemic immune response. However, the effect of tumor cytotoxicity induced by RT is limited, and it can induce abscopal effect in combination with immunotherapy (IT). A number of clinical studies have shown the effect and great potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as PD-1/L1 antibodies in advanced EC. Besides, RT and ICIs exert a synergistic effect. Currently, multiple ongoing studies related to concurrent radiochemotherapy combined with IT is expected to determine the efficacy of this comprehensive treatment in EC and elucidate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness.