The article reviews the growing consensus that combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy can boost the abscopal effect, which is the regression of distant metastases following radiotherapy at a primary tumor site. The abscopal effect has been linked to immune-mediated mechanisms, but it is rare due to established immune-tolerance mechanisms. Recent advances in radiotherapy, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), have improved therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing toxicity. Preclinical studies have shown that combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, such as checkpoint inhibitors or immunoadjuvants, can enhance the abscopal effect by increasing tumor immunogenicity and priming T cells. However, challenges remain, including overcoming immunosuppression and managing toxicities. The use of smart materials, such as nanoparticles and smart radiotherapy biomaterials (SRBs), offers potential solutions to these limitations by improving drug delivery, minimizing toxicities, and enhancing immune responses. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating these combinations to improve treatment outcomes for various cancers.The article reviews the growing consensus that combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy can boost the abscopal effect, which is the regression of distant metastases following radiotherapy at a primary tumor site. The abscopal effect has been linked to immune-mediated mechanisms, but it is rare due to established immune-tolerance mechanisms. Recent advances in radiotherapy, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), have improved therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing toxicity. Preclinical studies have shown that combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy, such as checkpoint inhibitors or immunoadjuvants, can enhance the abscopal effect by increasing tumor immunogenicity and priming T cells. However, challenges remain, including overcoming immunosuppression and managing toxicities. The use of smart materials, such as nanoparticles and smart radiotherapy biomaterials (SRBs), offers potential solutions to these limitations by improving drug delivery, minimizing toxicities, and enhancing immune responses. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating these combinations to improve treatment outcomes for various cancers.