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An antibody carries a light-sensitive dye to the tumour; shining near-infrared light then bursts the cells.
Photoimmunotherapy conjugates the IR700 dye to an antibody; under 690 nm near-infrared light the dye undergoes a photochemical reaction that ruptures the cell membrane and causes immunogenic cell death, so only antibody-bound cells in the illuminated field are killed. Cetuximab sarotalocan (Akalux, Rakuten Medical), targeting EGFR, is approved in Japan (2020) for recurrent head and neck cancer, and a US phase 3 is ongoing. Classical photodynamic therapy with porfimer or ALA is used for skin, oesophageal, and bile-duct lesions. The treatment is highly selective, repeatable, and immunogenic. Light penetration limits it to accessible tumours, although fibre-optic delivery extends its reach. The simple version is that an antibody carries a light-sensitive dye to the tumour and shining light then bursts the cells.
IR700 dye conjugated to antibody undergoes photochemical reaction under 690 nm light, causing membrane rupture and immunogenic cell death.
Cetuximab sarotalocan is an EGFR antibody carrying a light-activated dye: after infusion, a red laser is shone on the tumour and the cells burst. It has been approved in Japan since 2020.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"photoimmunotherapy" OR ABSTRACT:"photoimmunotherapy" OR TITLE:"photodynamic therapy" OR ABSTRACT:"photodynamic therapy") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Photoimmunotherapy & photodynamic therapy, not a curated reading list.
Shares Cetuximab sarotalocan, Photoimmunotherapy as an in situ vaccine with PD-1 blockade, Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Shares Cetuximab sarotalocan, Photodynamic therapy lasers and light sources, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Shares Photoimmunotherapy as an in situ vaccine with PD-1 blockade, Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Shares Immunogenic cell death, Cold tumours and the immunosuppressive microenvironment, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Shares Photodynamic therapy lasers and light sources, Devices and physical therapies roadmap: heat and light → electric fields and focused sound → drug-releasing implants.
Shares Photoimmunotherapy as an in situ vaccine with PD-1 blockade, Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, EGFR, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Shares Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, EGFR, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Shares Immunogenic cell death, Devices and physical therapies roadmap: heat and light → electric fields and focused sound → drug-releasing implants.