{
  "abstract": "Tumor-draining lymph nodes (DLNs) are crucial for the development of anti-tumor immunity upon irradiation. However, in radiotherapy, DLNs are frequently co-irradiated, which impairs their function. Here, we examine the consequences of DLN irradiation on anti-tumor immunity, focusing on the recently described radiotherapy-induced disruption of the CCR7-CCL19/CCL21 axis, which governs tumor-to-DLN trafficking. We use in vivo irradiated murine LNs and in vitro assays to assess irradiation-induced structural and functional changes in the DLNs. DLN-infiltrating lymphocytes and CCL19/CCL21 chemokines were depleted early after irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. Lymphocyte numbers recovered only in DLNs irradiated with 5 Gy or less. Lymphopenia persisted in DLNs irradiated with 15 Gy, with few surviving lymphocytes showing a compensatory increase in proliferation. Irradiation-deregulated secretion of CCL19 could be related to lymphodepletion and/or direct irradiation-induced processes in stromal cells. In conclusion, radiotherapy depletes DLNs, and impairs stromal function and chemokine signaling, thereby compromising anti-tumor immunity.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland",
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland",
    "Institute of Immunobiology, Medical Research Center, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Sabrina Reichl"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lisa Kurz"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alba Sanchez Fernandez"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Elina Bugar"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Irene Vetrugno"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Burkhard Ludewig"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Martin Pruschy"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Irma Telarovic"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d1bmxpnkmxjc5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41698-026-01610-y",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13736964/",
  "id": "d1bmxpnkmxjc5",
  "issns": [
    "2397-768X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-026-01610-y",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2730|Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7168040163",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41698-026-01610-y_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13736964",
  "pmid": "42436330",
  "published": "2026-07-11",
  "publisher": "Nature Publishing Group",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d1bmxpnkmxjc5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:22:17Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13736964",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-026-01610-y"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2730|Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dynamic alterations in the irradiated draining lymph node",
  "title_text": "Dynamic alterations in the irradiated draining lymph node",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:22:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/d1bmxpnkmxjc5",
  "venue": "NPJ Precision Oncology",
  "versions": []
}