Session

Overview: Radiotherapy not only exerts direct cytotoxic effects on tumour cells, but also reprogrammes the tumour microenvironment to facilitate a potent anti-tumour immune response. Dr. Galluzzi will discuss the competing role of caspase signalling in cell death kinetics and immunological manifestations following irradiation that could limit clinical impact. Dr Rodríguez-Ruiz will extend this discussion to the complex, multi-pathway molecular triggers underlying the “abscopal” effect. Addressing resistance to radiotherapy immunotherapy combinations, Prof. Illidge will discuss the importance of radiation dose, fractionation, and volume. Therapeutic success is ultimately associated with inefficient DNA damage repair. Dr. McLaughlin will discuss the involvement of cGAS, and downstream cGAMP-STING-interferon signalling on the DNA damage response.