Figure 1.

The radionuclide ²¹³Bi induces immunogenic cell death that fosters effective antitumor immune protection in vivo. ²¹³Bi irradiation of MC-38 adenocarcinoma cells causes them to release danger associated molecular proteins (DAMPs) such as heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), thus activating dendritic cells (DCs). Activated DCs express costimulatory molecules that allow the activation of cytotoxic T cells specific for tumor antigens. T cells can then migrate in the body and eliminate remaining tumor cells at distant sites.