Advances in antitumor immune mechanisms of radiotherapy in combination with immunotherapy

As a significant treatment for tumors, radiotherapy is often considered a local therapy. However, an increasing number of researches indicate that reasonable radiation dose schedules can improve the tumor environment, induce immunogenic tumor cell death, provide in situ vaccine, and stimulate systemic antitumor effect. Meanwhile, immunotherapy can enhance the effect induced by radiotherapy, which has been proved in preclinical studies and is widely investigated in clinical studies. This review focuses on the immune response and mechanisms of radiotherapy, and advances in the application of radiotherapy in combination with immunotherapy. (authors)