EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Tumors have become more common in recent years across the world. Although immunotherapy is a precise, quick, and efficient way to treat tumors, it generates serious side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. Thus, the creation of an efficient and non-harmful immunotherapy approach is urgently required. Photochemical interactions—especially photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT)—can be used for direct cell killing in treating malignancies.

Selective PTT, which involves the administration of a light-absorbing dye in situ, has also been shown to be an effective strategy for the local treatment of malignancies. Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) can become a systemic treatment method by enhancing the benefits of phototherapy when combined with immunotherapy. PIT combines the benefits of standard light treatment with the precision targeting capacity of antibodies.

A unique luminous dye and a substance that targets cancer are combined in PIT to increase the body's immunological response. Preclinical investigations have employed PIT combinations, especially in conjunction with immunoadjuvants. The regulatory bodies in Japan have granted Near-Infrared PIT (NIR-PIT) its approval, enabling the exploration of ways to minimize risks and maximize rewards from this therapeutic approach.

An essential advantage of NIR-PIT is its ability to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells or altering the host's immune system. Numerous malignancies can benefit from using NIR-PIT as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other immunological therapies to improve immunity. This review summarizes the history, current, and future of PIT research and its application to various and diverse human conditions.

Keywords: Cytokines; Immunoadjuvants; Immunogenic Cell Death; Non-Pharmacological Cancer Treatment; Precision Targeting

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