Synergistic Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 102
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cancer immunotherapy; radioimmunotherapy; multifunctional nanoprobes
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The landscape of cancer therapy is being reshaped by the innovative integration of radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy (IT). Historically, a cornerstone of local tumor control, radiotherapy is now recognized for its profound systemic immunomodulatory effects. It can induce immunogenic cell death, thereby priming a tumor-specific immune response and potentially transforming the irradiated site into an in situ vaccine. This paradigm shift underscores the potential of RT to synergize with IT—which aims to overcome immunosuppressive barriers and reactivate antitumor immunity—to achieve enhanced and durable responses, including the coveted abscopal effect. Emerging nanotechnologies are further amplifying this synergy by enabling targeted drug delivery, enhancing radiosensitization, and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment with unprecedented precision.
This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that elucidate the mechanisms, clinical applications, and future directions of combining radiotherapy with various immunotherapies. We seek to explore how this multimodal approach can reprogram the tumor microenvironment, overcome resistance mechanisms, and improve outcomes across a spectrum of malignancies. A particular emphasis will be placed on the transformative role of nanomedicine, which offers novel strategies to spatially and temporally control the interactions between radiation and the immune system.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Mechanisms of radio-immunity (e.g., immunogenic cell death, antigen release, and dendritic cell activation);
- Nanotechnology-based strategies for enhanced radiosensitization and targeted delivery of immunotherapeutic agents;
- Design of nano-radio-immunostimulants (e.g., metallic nanoparticles, liposomes, and biomimetic nanovesicles) to potentiate systemic anti-tumor immunity;
- Novel combinations of RT with immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells, or bispecific antibodies;
- Biomarkers for predicting response and toxicity in combined modality therapy;
- The impact of radiotherapy dose, fractionation, and target volume on systemic immunity;
- Clinical trial results and translational studies demonstrating efficacy and safety;
- Strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment;
- Image-guided and stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms for synergistic radio-immunotherapy.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Xiaju Cheng
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- radiotherapy
- immunotherapy
- combination therapy
- nanomedicine
- immunogenic cell death
- tumor microenvironment
- immune checkpoint inhibitors
- abscopal effect
- systemic immunity
- clinical trials
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
