Influence of low-dose radiation on abscopal responses in patients receiving high-dose radiation and immunotherapy

Hari Menon, Dawei Chen, Rishab Ramapriyan, Vivek Verma, Hampartsoum B. Barsoumian, Taylor R. Cushman, Ahmed I. Younes, Maria A. Cortez, Jeremy J. Erasmus, Patricia De Groot, Brett W. Carter, David S. Hong, Isabella C. Glitza, Renata Ferrarotto, Mehmet Altan, Adi Diab, Stephen G. Chun, John V. Heymach, Chad Tang, Quynh N. NguyenJames W. Welsh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Preclinical evidence suggests that low-dose radiation may overcome the inhibitory effects of the tumor stroma and improve a tumor's response to immunotherapy, when combined with high-dose radiation to another tumor. The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor responses to this combination in a clinical setting. Methods: A post-hoc analysis of 3 ongoing immunoradiation trials was performed. Twenty-six (of 155) patients received low-dose radiation (1-20 Gy total), either as scatter from high-dose radiation or from intentional treatment of a second isocenter with low-dose radiation, were evaluated for response. The low-dose lesions were compared to lesions that received no radiation (< 1 Gy total). Response rates, both defined as complete and partial responses as defined by RECIST criteria were used to compare lesion types. Results: The 26 patients had a total of 83 lesions for comparison (38 receiving low-dose, 45 receiving no-dose). The average dose given to low-dose lesions was 7.3 Gy (1.1-19.4 Gy), and the average time to response was 56 days. Twenty-two out of 38 (58%) low-dose lesions met the PR/CR criteria for RECIST compared with 8 out of 45 (18%) no-dose lesions (P = 0.0001). The median change for longest diameter size for low-dose lesions was - 38.5% compared to 8% in no-dose lesions (P < 0.0001). Among the low-dose lesions that had at least one no-dose lesion within the same patient as a control (33 and 45 lesions respectively), 12 low-dose lesions (36%) responded without a corresponding response in their no-dose lesions; Conversely, two (4%) of the no-dose lesions responded without a corresponding response in their low-dose lesion (P = 0.0004). Conclusions: Low-dose radiation may increase systemic response rates of metastatic disease treated with high-dose radiation and immunotherapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number237
JournalJournal for immunotherapy of cancer
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 4 2019

Keywords

  • Abscopal effect
  • Immunotherapy
  • Low-dose radiotherapy
  • Metastatic cancer
  • Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cancer Research

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Clinical Trials Office

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