PhD conferral Ms Nicolle H. Rekers, MSc.

“Radiotherapy and immunotherapy: the perfect partnership”

Keywords: immunotherapy, irradiation, translational research, abscopal effect

The overall goal of this dissertation was to examine the systemic anti-tumour effects of irradiation in combination with immunotherapy (L19-IL2). Recently, it has been shown that tumour irradiation initiates an immune reaction and L19-IL2 has the potential to strengthen this anti-tumour immune response targeted at the tumour. In this dissertation, we show that irradiation plus L19-IL2 results in a strong immune response against the tumour with long-lasting healing in certain tumour models. The generated immune response has the same effects on tumours outside the irradiated area and can prevent new tumour formation. These results have led to a Phase I clinical trial.