Radiotherapy for HPV-related cancers: prediction of therapeutic effects based on the mechanism of tumor immunity and the application of immunoradiotherapy

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer is one of the diseases entities for which the applications of radiotherapy have been increasing. Recently, the process of carcinogenesis from HPV infection and the mechanism of tumor immunity that develops during disease progression have been elucidated. In this review, we will describe the mechanism of tumor immunity and how chemoradiotherapy may overcome and improve the efficacy of tumor immunity. We will also discuss the usefulness of proteins involved with tumor immunity as a predictive marker of radiotherapy response, and present an overview of ongoing clinical trials of combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors and radiotherapy to demonstrate the promising combination therapy that has been currently emerging.

Automated summary

This review discusses the application of radiotherapy for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer and the mechanism of tumor immunity. It also explores how chemoradiotherapy can improve the efficacy of tumor immunity. Additionally, it highlights the usefulness of tumor immunity-related proteins as predictive markers of radiotherapy response, and provides an overview of ongoing clinical trials of combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors and radiotherapy.