[Could we consider that radiotherapy is effective outside the irradiation area ? The abscopal effect]

Radiotherapy is known for its action on local tumoral control. However, it is also able to induce immunomodulatory effects at a systemic level. The abscopal effect (from latin ab scopus which means «away from the target») is an illustration of this phenomenon. It is defined as a tumor regression observed outside and at a distance of the irradiation fields. The potential application of this effect of treatment in disseminated cancers is a fast-growing field of research. The optimal therapeutic strategy to achieve this effect remains unknown.