How radiation (mis)fits into immuno-oncology: Potential implications for cancer radio-immunology

Radiation is an immunomodulator that can either stimulate or suppress the immune response against cancer. The spectrum of potentially immunostimulatory effects of radiotherapy is broad. Likewise, radiotherapy can also produce numerous immunosuppressive effects. Which effect dominates depends on many factors, including the radiation dose, type of radiation, volume and tissue irradiated, and the radiation technique used. For example, conventional radiation, which is usually delivered to larger volumes over several weeks and includes elective volumes (e.g., nonpathologic lymph nodes), generally results in immunosuppression. In contrast, stereotactic body radiotherapy and, to an even greater extent, spatially fractionated radiotherapy are delivered to smaller volumes over a short period, usually in 1–3 fractions, and spare the surrounding healthy tissues and organs, including the peritumoral microenvironment, potentially leading to immunostimulation.The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together leading experts in the field of cancer radioimmunology and collect new evidence on the impact of therapeutic radiation on the immune system and the immune system’s subsequent impact on the tumor. This interaction can have important clinical implications, as it may significantly affect tumor control and treatment outcomes.For example, in situations where radiotherapy alone cannot provide the desired therapeutic effect, such as tumor control or cure in large, inoperable bulky tumors or in largely hypoxic, resistant histologies, adding an additional antitumor component in the form of a radiation-triggered immune response could improve the therapeutic ratio and potentially change patient prognosis. This Research Topic aims to gather current evidence on the interaction between radiation and the immune system, encourage further development in this field, and ultimately improve treatment outcomes in the fight against cancer.This Research Topic is relevant to both preclinical and clinical investigative research in radio-oncology and immunology and accepts submissions in the following formats: Brief Research Report, Case Report, Classification, Clinical Trial, Editorial, FAIR² Data, General Commentary, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Study Protocol, Systematic Review, and Technology and Code with an emphasis on original research articles. All published articles will undergo rigorous external peer review and may be subject to publication fees.Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this Research Topic. Topic editors: Slavisa Tubin, Waleed Fouad Mourad Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79167/how-radiation-misfits-into-immuno-oncology-potential-implications-for-cancer-radio-immunology