Radioimmunotherapy – Dr Irma Telarovic (USZ & UZH), Prof. Panagiotis Balermpas (USZ & UZH) and Prof. Martin Pruschy (USZ & UZH)

Optimizing Radiation Therapy to Preserve the Immune System’s Ability to Fight Cancer

Optimizing therapies that combine radiation and immune modulation by protecting tumor-draining lymph nodes from radiation damage

This research aims to generate a more efficient combination therapy of radiation treatment and immune therapy by mitigating the negative effects of lymph node irradiation on anti-tumor immunity. During radiation therapy, the lymph nodes near the tumor are often irradiated to destroy any invading cancer cells. However, these lymph nodes also play a crucial role in activating T cells, which contribute to the immune response against the tumor. Irradiating them at the same time as the tumor could therefore limit the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

The researchers want to understand exactly how radiation therapy disrupts the function of the lymph nodes and determines best to protect them. They will investigate whether delaying their irradiation—or adjusting the doses and treatment schedule—can preserve the immune response without reducing disease control. Ultimately, these findings will be used to prepare a clinical trial in patients with head and neck cancer.