Dear Colleagues,

In addition to its local effects, radiation therapy (RT) has the ability to act as an immune modulator. Studies have demonstrated that immunologic cell death in response to ionizing radiation allows for increased anti-tumor T-cell activation. Additionally, RT has been shown to induce immune-stimulatory and/or immune-suppressive modifications in the tumor microenvironment. However, RT alone is not always adequate to overcome these immunosuppressive mechanisms. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated improvements in overall survival for multiple advanced malignancies and are now frequently used in this setting. In 2011, ipilimumab was the first ICI approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody to CTLA-4, which serves as a regulator of T-cell activation. Subsequently, agents targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis were approved. Due to their properties, ICIs have the potential to reverse the immune exhaustion that occurs following chronic T-cell activation. Thus, RT and ICIs can behave synergistically to enhance anti-tumor immunity.

We encourage contributors to submit manuscripts addressing any of the various aspects of radiation therapy and/or immunotherapy, including the following:

• Clinical strategies to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of radiation therapy and immunotherapy.
• Novel insights into molecular pathways and/or targets involved in the response to radiation therapy and/or immunotherapy.
• Novel applications combining radiation therapy and immunotherapy.
• Preclinical and translational studies.

Dr. Daniel M. Trifiletti
Dr. Eric J. Lehrer
Guest Editors

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• radiation therapy
• radiosurgery
• immunotherapy
• cancer
• immune checkpoint inhibitors
• stereotactic body radiation therapy
• tumor microenvironment