Immune Response following Radiation Therapy in a MC38-luc Orthotopic Rectal Cancer Model

Specific immune subsets from orthotopic murine rectal tumors were sequenced to explore the effect that short course radiotherapy has on the immune response. Overall design: MC38-luc tumor cells were orthotopically implanted in the rectum of C57BL6 female mice. Tumors were irradiated using a small animal irradiator from days 9-13 post tumor implantation. Tumors were treated with 5Gy radiation therapy for 5 consecutive daily fractions. Tumors were harvested on day 14 and myeloid subsets including tumor associated macrophages (CD45+, CD11b+, Ly6C-, Ly6G-, F480+), inflammatory monocytes (CD45+, CD11b+, Ly6C+, Ly6G-), and granulocytes (CD45+, CD11b+, Ly6C+, Ly6G+) were sorted and processed for RNA sequencing.