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Katrin Rein (German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany)
Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral part of cancer treatment. The mission of our group is to advance radiation oncology to deliver the best individualized care for cancer patients. Our team explores charged particles (protons, carbon, and oxygen ions) in addition to conventional X-ray treatment. Particle therapy enhances treatment efficacy, and combined with dose modulation, distribution, fractionation, and ultra-high dose rates, results in highly effective RT. Advances in local tumor control by high-precision RT need to be combined with targeted molecular tumor therapies. While RT induces an antitumor immune response, it can also also trigger radioresistance by activating immune evasive processes. Molecular therapy aims to “reprogram” the tumor immune microenvironment, reducing negative RT effects and enhancing positive ones. Moreover, induction of robust immune response can lead to systemic treatment effects by immune cell infiltration to metastatic lesions. In summary, modulating radiotherapy in localized manner coupled with immune microenvironment reprogramming to induce systemic responses improves treatment, preserves normal tissue, and thereby widens the therapeutic window.