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Breakthrough: How radiation helps the immune system kill cancer

Radiation therapy, once thought of mainly as a local cancer treatment, is now showing power to awaken the immune system in surprising ways. Researchers discovered that combining radiation with immunotherapy can transform stubborn, unresponsive lung tumors into targets for immune attack—especially those considered “cold” and typically resistant. This happens through a rare and poorly understood effect where immune cells are activated systemically, not just at the radiation site. Patients whose tumors underwent this “warm-up” had significantly better outcomes, revealing a promising new strategy for fighting hard-to-treat cancers.

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