AUTHOR=Weichselbaum Ralph, Fu Yang-Xin, Burnette Byron TITLE=The confluence of radiotherapy and immunotherapy JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=2 YEAR=2012 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2012.00143 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2012.00143 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=Radiotherapy (RT) has been considered a local modality and outcomes have emphasized local and regional control of tumors. Recent data suggests that RT may activate the immune system and the combination of radiation therapy and immune therapies may have the potential to improve both local and distant control of tumor deposits. Below we review principals underlying the concepts of combining both modalities.