Immunotherapy in oncology: a new challenge for radiologists

Abstract

Objective: In patients with oncologic disease, immunotherapy has become established as an alternative or complementary therapy to traditional treatment options (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy). Currently available immunotherapy modes can be divided into two types: passive and active. The active type strengthens the immune system's response to tumor cells by activating both humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity, using the adaptive response. This article aims to analyze the radiologic patterns of the response to immunotherapy through immune-response-related criteria and to describe the main adverse effects associated with this treatment approach.

Conclusion: Imaging tests play a fundamental role in the follow-up of oncologic patients and in the assessment of their response to treatment. Immunotherapy represents a challenge for radiologists both in the evaluation of the response to immunotherapy and in the detection of the adverse effects associated with this treatment approach.

Keywords: Adverse events; Criteria for immune response; Criterios de respuesta inmunológica; Directed molecular therapy; Eventos adversos; Imagen en oncología; Imaging in oncology; Immunotherapy; Inmunoterapia; Terapia molecular dirigida.