Radiotherapy is widely used for the treatment of cancer, as half of
these patients will be considered throughout the course of their
treatment. Radiotherapy schedule is determined by several factors,
such as the tumor type, its localization in the body, or the protocols
established by the hospitals. In some rare cases, in which patients
have an outstanding clinical outcome, radiotherapy was shown to
induce an immune response, and to improve immunotherapies, i.e.
treatments that boost the immune system to fight cancer. The
strategy to stimulate the immune system during cancer therapy is
currently giving spectacular responses in patients, and brings hope
for the curability of cancer. However, the schedule (delivered dose,
treatment schedule) of radiotherapy that gives such effect as well as
the cellular processes involved are not yet clear. In this research
project, I aim to identify the basic cellular mechanisms involved in the
establishment of the immune response triggered by radiotherapy.