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Intravital optical imaging for immune cell tracking after photoimmunotherapy with plasmonic gold nanostars
Ericka Chorniak1, Yang Liu2,3,4, Ren Odion2,4
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States of America.
Abstract:
Bladder cancer has been ranked as one of the most commonly occurring cancers in men and women with approximately half of the diagnoses being the late stage and/or metastatic diseases. We have developed a novel cancer treatment by combining gold nanostar-mediated photothermal therapy with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy to treat bladder cancer. Experiment results with a murine animal model demonstrated that our developed photoimmunotherapy therapy is more efficacious than any individual studied treatment. In addition, we used intravital optical imaging with a dorsal skinfold window chamber animal model to study immune responses and immune cell accumulation in a distant tumor following our photoimmunotherapy. The mice used have the CX3CR1-GFP receptor on monocytes, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells allowing us to dynamically track their presence by fluorescence imaging. Our proof-of-principle study results showed that the photoimmunotherapy triggered anti-cancer immune responses to generate anti-cancer immune cells which accumulate in metastatic tumors. Our study results illustrate that intravital optical imaging is an efficient and versatile tool to investigate immune responses and mechanisms of photoimmunotherapy in future studies.
Insights
This study introduces a novel photoimmunotherapy combining gold nanostars and checkpoint inhibitors for bladder cancer. This combined treatment effectively triggers anti-cancer immune responses and reduces tumors in animal models.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanomedicine
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Bladder cancer is a common malignancy, with many diagnoses at late or metastatic stages.
- Current treatments for advanced bladder cancer have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel photoimmunotherapy for bladder cancer.
- To investigate the underlying immune mechanisms of this novel treatment using advanced imaging techniques.
Main Methods:
- Combination therapy using gold nanostar-mediated photothermal therapy and checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy.
- Murine animal models for bladder cancer treatment efficacy studies.
- Intravital optical imaging with dorsal skinfold window chamber models to track immune cell dynamics.
Main Results:
- The developed photoimmunotherapy demonstrated superior efficacy compared to individual treatments in a murine model.
- Photoimmunotherapy successfully triggered systemic anti-cancer immune responses.
- Immune cell accumulation in distant metastatic tumors was observed following treatment.
Conclusions:
- Combined photothermal therapy and immunotherapy represent a promising strategy for bladder cancer treatment.
- Intravital optical imaging is a valuable tool for studying cancer immunotherapy mechanisms.
- This approach has the potential to enhance immune cell infiltration and anti-tumor activity in metastatic settings.
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