Combined Focal Radiation and Immune Checkpoint Inhibition Enhances Anti-Tumor Responses over Single Agent Treatment in a Murine Mammary Carcinoma Model

AACR 2020 -- Tumor models can be generally divided into immunologically 'cold' and 'warm' categories based on their immune cell infiltrates and their ability to respond to checkpoint inhibition. 'Warm' tumors respond well to immuno-therapies while 'cold' tumors do not. Researchers are searching for ways to make 'cold' tumors more responsive. In this study, the 'cold' breast tumor model 4T1-luc was used. Typically insensitive to checkpoint inhibition, the combination treatment of focal radiation with anti-CTLA4 blockade was tested.