Short-course radiotherapy promotes pro-inflammatory macrophages via extracellular vesicles in human rectal cancer.
Victoria StaryBrigitte WolfDaniela UnterleuthnerJulia ListMerjem TalicJohannes LaengleAndrea BeerJohanna StroblGeorg StaryHelmut DolznigMichael M BergmannPublished in: Journal for immunotherapy of cancer (2021)
Our findings highlight macrophages as potential effector cells upon irradiation in rectal cancer by diminishing their immunosuppressive phenotype and activate pro-inflammation. Our data indicate that clinically applied short-term radiotherapy for rectal cancer may be exploited to stimulate immunogenic macrophages and suggest to target the polarization status of macrophages to enhance future immunotherapeutic strategies.