Lymphocyte-sparing radiotherapy: the rationale for protecting lymphocyte-rich organs when combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy
P Lambin, RIY Lieverse, F Eckert, D Marcus… - Seminars in radiation …, 2020 - Elsevier
There is now strong clinical and preclinical evidence that lymphocytes, for example, CD8+ T
cells, are key effectors of immunotherapy and that irradiation of large blood vessels, the
heart, and lymphoid organs (including nodes, spleen, bones containing bone marrow, and
thymus in children) causes transient or persistent lymphopenia. Furthermore, there is
extensive clinical evidence, across multiple cancer sites and treatment modalities, that
lymphopenia correlates strongly with decreased overall survival. At the moment, we lack …
cells, are key effectors of immunotherapy and that irradiation of large blood vessels, the
heart, and lymphoid organs (including nodes, spleen, bones containing bone marrow, and
thymus in children) causes transient or persistent lymphopenia. Furthermore, there is
extensive clinical evidence, across multiple cancer sites and treatment modalities, that
lymphopenia correlates strongly with decreased overall survival. At the moment, we lack …