Research progress of the application of immune checkpoints in tumor radiotherapy

Radiation could induce DNA damage, cell death, and changes of tumor phenotype and tumor microenvironment leading to the regulation of immune response. Immune checkpoint signaling pathways are involved in the immune tolerance of anti-microorganism responses and thus limit tissue damage. In the anti-tumor immune response, these pathways are associated with anti-functional activation of specific cytotoxic T cells and also enhance the inhibition...