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Review
. 2020 Aug 3:12:6695-6706.
doi: 10.2147/CMAR.S245426. eCollection 2020.

Research Progress and Existing Problems for Abscopal Effect

Di Wang #  1 , Xia Zhang #  2 , Yajie Gao  1 , Xiaonan Cui  1 , Yanqin Yang  3 , Weifeng Mao  4 , Minghuan Li  5 , Bin Zhang  1   5 , Jinming Yu  5
Affiliations
Review

Research Progress and Existing Problems for Abscopal Effect

Di Wang et al. Cancer Manag Res. .

Abstract

Radiation therapy plays a vital role in the treatment of tumours. In particular, the occurrence of the "abscopal effect" brings about a favourable turn for the treatment of patients with advanced metastatic malignant tumours. Because of the abscopal effect, non-irradiated areas are also treated. However, the abscopal effect occurs by chance, not through seeking. Although the abscopal effect has been studied enthusiastically, the desired result does not appear to be achieved. Moreover, its combination with immunotherapy appears to be overwhelming. There is an opinion that abscopal effect is difficult to achieve by irradiation of a single tumour, and irradiation of multiple or total lesions is advocated to increase the possibility of obtaining clinically meaningful outcomes. Obviously, there are still questions about the mechanism, condition and possibility underlying the occurrence of the abscopal effect. Can the abscopal effect truly change the future treatment strategy as the researchers expect? What are the current problems? This article reviewed the research in recent years to explore the progress and controversy surrounding the abscopal effect of radiation therapy.

Keywords: abscopal effect; immunomodulation; immunotherapy; radiation therapy; tumour microenvironment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The potential mechanisms underlying the occurrence of the abscopal effect.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Conditions that induce or limit the occurrence of the abscopal effect.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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