Open Access

Immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer: Current status and challenge (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Qiong Li
    • Ya-Qin Cai
    • Li-Hua Shao
    • Yue-Xiao Qi
    • Li-Yun Guo
    • Hai-Xia Song
    • Yu-Mei Dong
    • Shi-Hong Wei
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 4, 2025     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15215
  • Article Number: 469
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized the treatment landscape for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in previous years. However, not all patients achieve a satisfactory objective response and long‑term benefits, leading to growing interest in combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy (RT) to enhance therapeutic outcomes. The present review explored the rationale, efficacy and safety of combining RT with immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC. RT can potentiate immune responses through various mechanisms, such as immunogenic cell death and modification of the tumor microenvironment. The addition of RT to immunotherapy has notable synergistic antitumor effects to improve systemic control as RT can induce diverse immunomodulatory effects. The present review assessed the efficacy and safety of combining ICIs with RT and examined the optimal timing, dose and fraction strategies of RT for enhancing immune activation while minimizing toxicity. Additionally, the potential of RT to overcome primary and acquired resistance to immunotherapy was discussed. Despite encouraging findings, challenges such as optimal patient selection and biomarkers, treatment‑related toxicity and precise timing of interventions remain unresolved. The present review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of current evidence, as well as the key considerations for integrating RT and immunotherapy into clinical practice.
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October-2025
Volume 30 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Li Q, Cai Y, Shao L, Qi Y, Guo L, Song H, Dong Y and Wei S: Immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer: Current status and challenge (Review). Oncol Lett 30: 469, 2025.
APA
Li, Q., Cai, Y., Shao, L., Qi, Y., Guo, L., Song, H. ... Wei, S. (2025). Immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer: Current status and challenge (Review). Oncology Letters, 30, 469. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15215
MLA
Li, Q., Cai, Y., Shao, L., Qi, Y., Guo, L., Song, H., Dong, Y., Wei, S."Immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer: Current status and challenge (Review)". Oncology Letters 30.4 (2025): 469.
Chicago
Li, Q., Cai, Y., Shao, L., Qi, Y., Guo, L., Song, H., Dong, Y., Wei, S."Immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer: Current status and challenge (Review)". Oncology Letters 30, no. 4 (2025): 469. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15215