Figure 1.

This figure shows the effects of radiotherapy in relation to the cancer immune cycle. Radiotherapy affects the immune response by induction of immunogenic cell death releasing new antigens to the components of the immune system. This subsequently leads to improved priming and activation of effector T cells. Radiotherapy further leads to increased expression of surface molecules on the irradiated cancer cells making them more vulnerable to cytotoxic T-cell-mediated cell killing. Finally, radiotherapy leads to the release of cytokines attracting T cells towards the irradiated tumour. Improved influx of effector T cells and improved T-cell killing of cancer cells could result in new antigen presented to the components of the immune system.