Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinic

Abstract Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT), a type of particle therapy, is at the forefront of clinical oncology treatments due to its superior physical properties and biological performance. Although CIRT has demonstrated outstanding therapeutic outcomes in clinical settings, the biological mechanisms...

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Main Authors: Shanghai Liu, Xiangyang He, Siqi Liang, Anqing Wu, Lu Liu, Wentao Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Radiation Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-025-02647-2
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author Shanghai Liu
Xiangyang He
Siqi Liang
Anqing Wu
Lu Liu
Wentao Hu
author_facet Shanghai Liu
Xiangyang He
Siqi Liang
Anqing Wu
Lu Liu
Wentao Hu
author_sort Shanghai Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT), a type of particle therapy, is at the forefront of clinical oncology treatments due to its superior physical properties and biological performance. Although CIRT has demonstrated outstanding therapeutic outcomes in clinical settings, the biological mechanisms underpinning its effects, particularly its immunogenic potential and the superiority of its induced antitumor immune response compared to photon radiotherapy, remain areas of active investigation. This review summarizes the latest research progress on the mechanisms of antitumor immune responses triggered by CIRT and discusses preclinical and clinical studies related to combined CIRT and immunotherapy (CCIT). Against the backdrop of extensive research and significant clinical efficacy achieved by combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, this review provides a theoretical foundation for a better understanding of the superior tumor cell-killing effects of CIRT and the underlying immunological mechanisms. Further insights into the factors affecting the efficacy, toxic effects, and developmental limitations of this combination therapy mode will be instrumental in guiding the conduction of CCIT studies.
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id doaj-art-56c8001e641f40b78e58ebde8c67fa91
institution Kabale University
issn 1748-717X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Radiation Oncology
spelling doaj-art-56c8001e641f40b78e58ebde8c67fa912025-08-20T03:48:18ZengBMCRadiation Oncology1748-717X2025-05-0120111510.1186/s13014-025-02647-2Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinicShanghai Liu0Xiangyang He1Siqi Liang2Anqing Wu3Lu Liu4Wentao Hu5State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow UniversityState Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow UniversityState Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow UniversityState Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow UniversitySuzhou Medical College of Soochow UniversityState Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow UniversityAbstract Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT), a type of particle therapy, is at the forefront of clinical oncology treatments due to its superior physical properties and biological performance. Although CIRT has demonstrated outstanding therapeutic outcomes in clinical settings, the biological mechanisms underpinning its effects, particularly its immunogenic potential and the superiority of its induced antitumor immune response compared to photon radiotherapy, remain areas of active investigation. This review summarizes the latest research progress on the mechanisms of antitumor immune responses triggered by CIRT and discusses preclinical and clinical studies related to combined CIRT and immunotherapy (CCIT). Against the backdrop of extensive research and significant clinical efficacy achieved by combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, this review provides a theoretical foundation for a better understanding of the superior tumor cell-killing effects of CIRT and the underlying immunological mechanisms. Further insights into the factors affecting the efficacy, toxic effects, and developmental limitations of this combination therapy mode will be instrumental in guiding the conduction of CCIT studies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-025-02647-2Carbon ion radiotherapyImmunotherapyTumor immunogenicityAntitumor immune response
spellingShingle Shanghai Liu
Xiangyang He
Siqi Liang
Anqing Wu
Lu Liu
Wentao Hu
Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinic
Radiation Oncology
Carbon ion radiotherapy
Immunotherapy
Tumor immunogenicity
Antitumor immune response
title Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinic
title_full Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinic
title_fullStr Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinic
title_full_unstemmed Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinic
title_short Carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity: from concept to the clinic
title_sort carbon ion irradiation mobilizes antitumor immunity from concept to the clinic
topic Carbon ion radiotherapy
Immunotherapy
Tumor immunogenicity
Antitumor immune response
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-025-02647-2
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AT anqingwu carbonionirradiationmobilizesantitumorimmunityfromconcepttotheclinic
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