OncoTargets and Therapy (Jun 2023)
Immunotherapy Plus Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Sarcomas: Is There a Potential for Synergism?
Abstract
Jiaqiang Wang,1 Hong Ge,2 Zhichao Tian1 1Department of Bone and Soft Tissue, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450008, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450008, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhichao Tian, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450008, Henan Province, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor derived from mesenchymal tissue. Advanced STS has a poor response to the current anti-cancer therapeutic options, with a median overall survival of less than two years. Thus, new and more effective treatment methods for STS are needed. Increasing evidence has shown that immunotherapy and radiotherapy have synergistic therapeutic effects against malignant tumors. In addition, immunoradiotherapy has yielded positive results in clinical trials for various cancers. In this review, we discuss the synergistic mechanism of immunoradiotherapy in cancer treatment and the application of this combined regimen for the treatment of several cancers. In addition, we summarize the existing evidence on the use of immunoradiotherapy for the treatment of STS and the relevant clinical trials that are currently ongoing. Furthermore, we identify challenges in the use of immunoradiotherapy for the treatment of sarcomas and propose methods and precautions for overcoming these challenges. Lastly, we propose clinical research strategies and future research directions to help in the research and treatment of STS.Keywords: PD-1 inhibitor, PD-L1 inhibitor, immune checkpoint inhibitor, radiotherapy, sarcoma, immunoradiotherapy
