Combination of Immunotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Gastrointestinal Cancers: An Appraisal of the Current Literature and Ongoing Research

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ritesh Kumar, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Jongmyung Kim, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Matthew P Deek, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Mariam F Eskander, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Prateek Gulhati, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Haejin In, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Timothy Kennedy, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Mihir M Shah, Emory University; Miral S Grandhi, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Lyudmyla Berim, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Kristen R Spencer, NYU Grossman School of Medicine; Russell C Langan, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Howard S Hochster, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Patrick M Boland, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Salma K Jabbour, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-07-01
• Publisher: MDPI
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 by the authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30070473
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: CURRENT ONCOLOGY
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 7
• Start Page: 6432
• End Page: 6446
• Grant/Funding Information: This research received no external funding.
• Keywords: SBRT; immunotherapy; Science & Technology; PD L1; EFFICACY; CHEMORADIATION THERAPY; NIVOLUMAB; immune checkpoint inhibitors; Oncology; CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA; UNRESECTABLE HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA; STEREOTACTIC BODY RADIOTHERAPY; TRIAL; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; ANTI-PD-1; ESOPHAGEAL; radiation
• Research Categories: Biology, Radiation; Health Sciences, Oncology; Health Sciences, Immunology

Abstract

Oncological outcomes are improving in gastrointestinal cancer with advancements in systemic therapies, and there is notable potential in combining immunotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) to allow for further improvements. Various preclinical and early phase II studies have shown promising synergy with immunotherapy and RT in gastrointestinal cancer. A few recent phase III studies have shown improved survival with the addition of immunotherapy to standard treatment for gastrointestinal cancer. The timing, duration, sequencing, and integration with other anti-cancer treatments are still areas of ongoing research. We have reviewed the published and ongoing studies of the combinations of immunotherapy and RT in gastrointestinal cancers.