Radiotherapy can convert malignant cells into an in situ anticancer vaccine, but is often inadequate at generating sufficient pro-inflammatory signals to optimally activate innate and adaptive immune responses. Topical imiquimod is a powerful pro-inflammatory agent with clinical activity against superficial skin cancers. These two modalities appear to complement each other, hence achieving local and systemic tumor control.
Keywords: T cells; Toll-like receptor 7; abscopal effect; breast cancer; cutaneous metastases; cyclophosphamide; immunological adjuvant; radiotherapy; synergy; tumor rejection.