Review

. 2025 Dec;14(1):2507856.

doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2025.2507856. Epub 2025 May 22.

Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 8th Annual ImmunoRad Conference

Fereshteh Talebi¹, Fabiana Gregucci¹, Jalal Ahmed², Nir Ben Chetrit¹, Brian D Brown², Timothy A Chan^{3

4}, Dhan Chand⁵, Julie Constanzo⁶, Sandra Demaria¹, Dmitry I Gabrilovich⁷, Encouse Golden¹, Andrew Godkin⁸, Chandan Guha⁹, Gaorav P Gupta¹⁰, Aisha Hasan¹¹, Fernanda G Herrera^{12

13

14}, Howard Kaufman¹⁵, Donna Li¹⁶, Alan A Melcher¹⁷, Sierra McDonald¹⁸, Taha Merghoub^{19

20}, Arta M Monjazeb²¹, Sébastien Paris²², Sean Pitroda²³, Anguraj Sadanandam²⁴, Dörthe Schaue²⁵, Laura Santambrogio¹, Phillippe Szapary²⁶, Julien Sage²⁷, James W Welsh²⁸, Anna Wilkins¹⁷, Kristina H Young^{29

30}, Eric Wennerberg¹⁷, Laurence Zitvogel³¹, Lorenzo Galluzzi³², Eric Deutsch³³, Silvia C Formenti¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
² Icahn Genomics Institute, Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
³ Department of Cancer Sciences, Global Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁴ Case Western University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁵ Agenus Inc, Lexingston, MA, USA.
⁶ Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM), INSERM U1194, Université de Montpellier, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM), Montpellier, France.
⁷ AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
⁸ Division of Infection and Immunity/Systems Immunity University Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
⁹ Departments of Radiation Oncology and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Radiation Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
¹¹ Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
¹² AGORA Cancer Research Center, Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹³ Services of Radiation Oncology and Immuno-Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁴ Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁵ Ankyra Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA.
¹⁶ University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁷ Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
¹⁸ UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
¹⁹ Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
²⁰ Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
²¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
²² Nanobiotix, Paris, France.
²³ Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology and Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
²⁴ Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
²⁵ Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
²⁶ Interventional Oncology, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ.
²⁷ Departments of Genetics and Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
²⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA.
²⁹ Division of Radiation Oncology, The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR, USA.
³⁰ Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA.
³¹ Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1015, Division of Medicine, Paris-Saclay University, Center of Clinical Investigations BIOTHERIS, Villejuif, France.
³² Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
³³ Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1030, Division of Medicine, Paris-Saclay University, RHU LySAIRI "Lymphocyte-Sparing Artificial Intelligence-guided Radio-Immunotherapy", Villejuif, France.

PMID: 40401900
PMCID: PMC12101595
DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2025.2507856

Review

Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 8th Annual ImmunoRad Conference

Fereshteh Talebi et al. Oncoimmunology. 2025 Dec.

. 2025 Dec;14(1):2507856.

doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2025.2507856. Epub 2025 May 22.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
² Icahn Genomics Institute, Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
³ Department of Cancer Sciences, Global Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁴ Case Western University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁵ Agenus Inc, Lexingston, MA, USA.
⁶ Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM), INSERM U1194, Université de Montpellier, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM), Montpellier, France.
⁷ AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
⁸ Division of Infection and Immunity/Systems Immunity University Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
⁹ Departments of Radiation Oncology and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Radiation Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
¹¹ Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
¹² AGORA Cancer Research Center, Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹³ Services of Radiation Oncology and Immuno-Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁴ Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
¹⁵ Ankyra Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA.
¹⁶ University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁷ Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
¹⁸ UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
¹⁹ Swim Across America and Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
²⁰ Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
²¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
²² Nanobiotix, Paris, France.
²³ Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology and Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
²⁴ Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
²⁵ Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
²⁶ Interventional Oncology, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ.
²⁷ Departments of Genetics and Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
²⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA.
²⁹ Division of Radiation Oncology, The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR, USA.
³⁰ Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA.
³¹ Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1015, Division of Medicine, Paris-Saclay University, Center of Clinical Investigations BIOTHERIS, Villejuif, France.
³² Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
³³ Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1030, Division of Medicine, Paris-Saclay University, RHU LySAIRI "Lymphocyte-Sparing Artificial Intelligence-guided Radio-Immunotherapy", Villejuif, France.

PMID: 40401900
PMCID: PMC12101595
DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2025.2507856

Abstract

The annual ImmunoRad Conference has established itself as a recurrent occasion to explore the possibility of combining radiation therapy (RT) and immunotherapy (IT) for clinical cancer management. Bringing together a number of preclinical and clinical leaders in the fields of radiation oncology, immuno-oncology and IT, this annual event fosters indeed essential conversations and fruitful exchanges on how to address existing challenges to expand the therapeutic value of RT-IT combinations. The 8th edition of the ImmunoRad Conference, which has been held in October 2024 at the Weill Cornell Medical College of New York City, highlighted exciting preclinical and clinical advances at the interface between RT and IT, setting the stage for extra progress toward extended benefits for patients with an increasing variety of tumor types. Here, we critically summarize the lines of investigation that have been discussed at the occasion of the 8th Annual ImmunoRad Conference.

Keywords: Abscopal effect; CAR T cells; CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes; TREG cells; low-dose radiation therapy; tumor-associated macrophages.

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Conflict of interest statement

BDB sits in the scientific advisory board (SAB) of Noetik. DC is a full-time employee of Agenus Inc. and holds equity in the company. DG is a full-time employee of AstraZeneca. EG declares research funding from Arcus Biosciences. CG sits in the data safety monitoring board (DSMB) for the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, is a co-founder of Bioconvergent Health and holds equity in the company. GPG declares funding from Merck, Breakpoint Therapeutics, the V Foundation, as well as ownership, intellectual property rights and royalties from Naveris Inc. AH is a full-time employee of Johnson & Johnson, hold stocks in the company, and declares royalties from Atara Biotherapeutics. FGH declares research funding from Accuray, Bioprotect, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche-ImFlame/ImCore, Nanobiotix, AstraZeneca, Eisai, MSD, Seagen, RaySearch Laboratories, as well as consultation fees, and travel expenses from Johnson & Johnson, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Eisai and Telix. HK is a full-time employee of Ankyra Therapeutics, owns stock in Replimune Inc. and serves on the SAB of Castle Biosciences, Immvira, Marengo Therapeutics, Tatum Biosciences, and Virogin. TM is a consultant for Immunos Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, TigaTx, Normunity, and Pfizer, a co-founder and equity holder in IMVAQ Therapeutics, and declares research funding from Surface Oncology, Kyn Therapeutics, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Leap Therapeutics, Aprea Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Enterome SA, and Realta Life Sciences. TM is an inventor on patent applications related to oncolytic virotherapy, alpha virus – based vaccines, neoantigen modeling, CD40, GITR, OX40, PD-1, and CTLA-4. AMM declares research funding from Genentech, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Transgene, Incyte, Trisalus. SP is a full-time employee of Nanobiotix and co-founder of PersonaDx, and declares has research funding from LUNGevity Foundation, American Lung Association, Falk Medical Research Trust as well as patents related to the diagnosis and triage of patients with colorectal liver metastases, RNAs with tumor radio/chemosensitizing and immunomodulatory properties, methods and compositions relating to cancer therapy with DNA-damaging agents, and molecular subtyping of colorectal liver metastases to personalize treatment approaches. AS is a co-founder of Oncoassign and Diagnostring Laboratories. PS is a full-time employee of Johnson & Johnson. JS is an equity holder and advisor for DISCO Pharmaceuticals. JWW is affiliated with Accuray (SAB, consulting), Alpine Immune Science (SAB, consulting, equity), Boehringer Ingelheim (SAB, consulting), Checkmate Pharmaceuticals (SAB, consulting, equity), China Medical Tribune (SAB, consulting), Genentech (SAB, consulting, research), GI Innovation (SAB, consulting), Kezar Life Sciences (SAB, consulting), Legion Healthcare Partners (SAB, consulting), Life Science Dynamic Limited (SAB, consulting), McKesson Corporation (SAB, consulting), Molecular Match (equity), Nanorobotix (SAB, consulting), OligoImmune (founder), Roche (SAB, consulting), Roche Molecular Systems (SAB, consulting), Nanobiotix (research funding, travel expenses, SAB), Bristol-Myers Squibb (research funding), Merck (research funding), Varian (research funding, travel expenses, sponsored clinical research), Reflexion (research funding, travel expenses, stock options, SAB), Hotspot Therapeutics (research funding), Gilead (research funding), Novocure (SAB), Oncoresponse (SAB, stock options), AstraZeneca (consultant, research funding), Bayer Healthcare (research funding), Kiromic (research funding), Alkermes (SAB, research funding), Artidis (research funding), Sciclone (research funding), Takeda (research funding), Nurix (research funding). AW declares PhD funding from AstraZeneca, and clinical fellowship funding from Artera AI, as well research funding from Veracyte, Roche, and co-leadership of the TGFβ paradox ImCore Working Group. KHY declares research funding from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bicara, Corbus, Eli Lilly, sits on the SAB of Synthis Therapeutics, and receives consulting fees from Corbus Pharmaceuticals. LZ is a founder and sits on the SAB of everImmune, sits on the SAB of Hookipa and the IHU Méditerranée Infections, declares research funding from 9 meters, Pileje, Biomérieux and Daiichi Sankyo, teaching contracts with Pierre Fabre and honoraria from everImmune, Kookipa, Pierre Fabre. LG is/has been holding research contracts with Lytix Biopharma, Promontory, and Onxeo, has received consulting/advisory honoraria from Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, OmniSEQ, Onxeo, The Longevity Labs, Inzen, Imvax, Sotio, Promontory, Noxopharm, EduCom, and the Luke Heller TECPR2 Foundation, and holds Promontory stock options. ED receives research funding and/or personal fees from Roche Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and MSD. SCF has received research funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, Varian, Regeneron, Merck, Celldex, and Arcus, and has served as a consultant for Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Varian, ViewRay, Elekta, Janssen, Regeneron, GlaxoSmithKline, Eisai, Astra Zeneca, MedImmune, Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, EMD Serono, Roche Genentech, Nanobiotix, Telix, and EmBioSys.

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Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 8th Annual ImmunoRad Conference

Affiliations

Updates on radiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations: Proceedings of 8th Annual ImmunoRad Conference

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