Can adding radiation to immunotherapy help advanced cancer patients? new study explores safety and 'Abscopal' effects
NCT ID NCT03042156
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at 42 adults with advanced solid tumors who were already on or about to start checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy and also needed palliative radiotherapy for symptom relief. Researchers wanted to see if the combination was safe (less than 30% severe side effects) and whether it could shrink tumors both where the radiation was aimed and elsewhere in the body (the 'abscopal' effect). The goal was to gather more information on how patients respond to this combined treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy and palliative radiation therapy
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help doctors understand which patients with advanced cancer might benefit from combining immunotherapy with palliative radiation, potentially improving symptom control and even shrinking tumors outside the radiated area.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study with only 42 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The main goal was safety, not proving the combination works better than either treatment alone.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Princess Margaret Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada