The radio-induced immune response: ballistics is key.

A letter published in the Journal of Translational Medicine discusses the immune response triggered by radiation therapy (RT). The letter explains that RT can have both immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects on the immune system. The authors conducted a study comparing two types of RT, shield RT (SRT) and conformal RT (CRT), and found that CRT was more effective at delaying tumor growth and improving survival due to a stronger CD8+ TIL-mediated immune response. The study also revealed that monocytes played a critical role in activating CD8+ TILs after CRT. The authors emphasize the importance of accurately describing the irradiation technique used in preclinical studies and highlight the need for further research on the immune mechanisms underlying RT efficacy. [Extracted from the article]