Photodynamic Therapy in Combination with the Hepatitis B Core Virus-like Particles (HBc VLPs) to Prime Anticancer Immunity for Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which combines light and oxygen with a photosensitizer to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated killing of primary tumor cells, benefits from non-invasive properties and its negligible toxicity to surrounding healthy tissues. In this study, we have shown that the second-generation photosensitizer FOSCAN can be internalized by tumor cells and effectively induce tumor cell death when exposed to laser irradiation in vitro. In addition, these dying tumor cells can be phagocytosed by dendritic cells and lead to their activation and maturation as assessed by in vitro co-culture models. While PDT induces immunogenic tumor cell apoptosis, its application for the treatment of tumors located in deep tissues and advanced malignancies has been limited. In this study, we demonstrate that hepatitis B core virus-like particles (HBc VLPs) can serve as a vaccine to enhance PDT-induced anti-cancer immunity by priming humoral immune responses and inducing CD8+ T cell responses. The combination of PDT and HBc VLPs increased the survival rate of MC-38 tumor-bearing mice to 55%, compared to 33% in PDT alone and no tumor-free mice in vaccine alone. Moreover, the combination effectively prevented tumor recurrence in vivo through enhanced immune memory T cells after therapy. Therefore, as both are clinically approved techniques, this combination provides a promising strategy for cancer therapy.

Multi-gene models for survival prognosis of colorectal cancer patients

“…Using biomimetic analysis, signi cant changes in lncRNA were found in patients with mismatch repair CRC, and LncRNA AC123023.1 was found to promote CRC invasion and migration. Silencing of LncRNA AC123023.1 in cellular assays caused a signi cant decrease in the expression of JAG2, a ligand of the Notch pathway, and thus promoted CRC invasion and migration [31][32][33] . These ndings provide new ideas for studying the pathogenesis and prognosis of CRC.…”

Advances in Liposome-Encapsulated Phthalocyanines for Photodynamic Therapy

“…Examples of PSs able to induce ICD include various phthalocyanines [ 70 , 71 ], Hypericin [ 72 ], Foscan [ 73 ], and Protoporphyrin IX [ 74 ], and the list keeps growing. Another example of a PS suitable for eliciting ICD is 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP).…”

The quest for nanoparticle-powered vaccines in cancer immunotherapy

“…In 2022, Hao et al utilized Hepatitis B Core (HBc) VLPs in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) to prime anticancer immunity (Fig. 8 ) [ 314 ]. PDT is a local treatment that employs photosensitizers, which is a drug that becomes activated to produce a form of oxygen to kills nearby cells when exposed to light.…”

“…Their study in a murine colorectal tumor model MC-38 demonstrated that the combination therapy enhanced innate and humoral immune responses, prolonged survival, and long-term memory capacity (Fig. 8 ) [ 314 ].

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“…( G , H and I ) CD45.2 + , CD4 + , CD8 + T cell population. Adapted with permission from ref [ 314 ]. Copyright (2022) Cancers.…”