Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous cancer and is the leading cause of cancer mortality in females worldwide. Breast cancer incidence has been increasing over the last few decades; simultaneously, novel therapeutic agents including immunotherapies and targeted therapies have become more prominent in use. Radiation therapy continues to serve as a cornerstone to breast cancer treatment in both early-stage and locoregionally advanced disease. Given the improvement in systemic agents, there is increasing interest in investigating the potential synergistic effect of radiation therapy and immunotherapy. As new trials and studies emerge demonstrating the clinical benefits of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in breast cancer, especially in PD-L1-positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), it is crucial to investigate the safety and efficacy of combining immunotherapy with radiation treatment. This narrative review discusses the impact of radiation therapy on anti-tumor immunogenicity, and examines the role of immunotherapy and radiation therapy in early-stage, locally advanced, recurrent, and metastatic breast cancer. We conducted a targeted literature search between 2010 and 2024, and included phase II/III clinical trials, mechanistic studies, and ongoing trials that evaluated the combination of immunotherapy (IO) and radiation therapy (RT). We discuss ongoing clinical studies, side effects, and optimal timing of combined IO and RT to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after exposure to real or perceived threats to life and is characterized by symptoms including intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal, and emotional numbness. While PTSD is well-studied in populations affected by disasters and combat, the impact of serious medical conditions like cancer and its treatments remain under-researched. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease, fear of recurrence, and disfiguring nature of treatments, patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) may experience a real or perceived risk of death. This systematic review synthesizes current knowledge on PTSD in patients with HNC. Methods: A systematic review was conducted per PRISMA guidelines. Five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and COCHRANE) were searched for studies describing PTSD in patients with and survivors of HNC. Studies with PTSD diagnosis and/or symptom data specific to patients with HNC were included. Results: Of 80 studies, 14 met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly used scale was the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version. The prevalence of PTSD ranged from 8% to 41% across the studies. No significant differences were found with regards to PTSD prevalence by HNC tumor site, disease stage, or treatment modality. Two studies identified significant associations between PTSD after treatment and depression at the time of diagnosis. Patients with PTSD who received cognitive behavioral therapy showed improvement in their PTSD symptoms compared to those who did not. Conclusions: PTSD is common in individuals with HNC; however, the lack of a standardized approach to diagnosing PTSD in patients with and survivors of HNC creates challenges in identifying patients who may benefit from treatment. Given that HNC is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with increasing incidence, there is a need to better understand the relationship between HNC and PTSD to allow for better PTSD screening, identification, and treatment to improve patients’ health-related quality of life and provide optimal patient care.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and it contributes to the second most gynecologic cancer-related deaths. With upfront surgery, the specific characteristics of both the patient and tumor allow for risk-tailored treatment algorithms including adjuvant radiotherapy and systemic therapy. In this narrative review, we discuss the current radiation treatment paradigm for endometrial cancer with an emphasis on various radiotherapy modalities, techniques, and dosing regimens. We then elaborate on how to tailor radiotherapy treatment courses in combination with other cancer-directed treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In conclusion, this review summarizes ongoing research that aims to further individualize radiotherapy regimens for individuals in an attempt to improve patient outcomes.