Radiation induced antitumor autoimmunity: immunotherapies and pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Radiation therapy plays a critical role for the local control of cancer by direct cytotoxicity. In addition to the direct target effect, radiation therapy can modify the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Preclinical data have demonstrated that radiation can enhance the anticancer activity of cancer immunotherapy. In addition, several clinical studies have revealed that local radiation treatment could induce systemic tumor responses by radiation induced antitumor immunity. Here, we review preclinical and clinical evidence of the immunomodulatory effects of radiation and the preclinical rationale of combination of radiation and immunotherapy as a potential treatment strategy in pancreatic cancer.