Immunology Primer
Contributed by Heather McGee, MD, PhD
Immunotherapy is emerging as an exciting and promising new treatment option in clinical oncology. While trials combining immunotherapy and radiation therapy are currently underway, we need to gain a better understanding of the mechanistic pathways underlying immunotherapy in order to devise the most effective ways to combine immunotherapy with radiation therapy. This research primer is designed to provide a basic overview of immunology for those interested in combining immunotherapy and radiation therapy, and will provide background information for those attending the ASTRO Science Workshop in June of 2017.
- Overview of the Immune System
- Innate and Adaptive Immunity
- Pathogen Recognition by Innate Immune Cells
- Antigen Receptor Diversity
- Antigen Presentation
- T Cell Activation and Effector Functions
- B Cell Activation and Effector Functions
- Central vs. Peripheral Tolerance
- Tumor-Immune Interactions
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
