Reviving Dormant Immunity: Millimeter Waves Reprogram the Immunosuppressive Microenvironment to Potentiate...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Cancer immunotherapy faces challenges with patient variability and immune evasion in solid tumors.
• Developing safe and effective strategies to overcome immune evasion is critical for advancing cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anti-tumor effects of millimeter waves (MMWs) alone and combined with anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 (α-PD-L1) therapy.
• To evaluate the potential of MMWs in reprogramming the immunosuppressed microenvironment of "cold tumors".

Main Methods:

• Utilized 4T1 and CT26 "cold tumor" models in cellular and animal studies.
• Administered MMWs and α-PD-L1 antibody therapy, both individually and in combination.
• Assessed tumor growth, metabolism, immune microenvironment, and anti-tumor immune responses.

Main Results:

• MMWs inhibited tumor growth, improved tumor metabolism, and enhanced the immune microenvironment.
• The combination of MMWs and α-PD-L1 demonstrated a synergistic anti-tumor effect, inhibiting progression and preventing recurrence.
• MMWs induced conformational changes in key immune proteins, boosting anti-tumor immunity.

Conclusions:

• MMWs are a promising nonthermal therapeutic tool that complements cancer immunotherapy.
• The MMWs and α-PD-L1 combination offers a novel strategy for precision treatment of solid "cold tumors".
• This approach effectively reprograms the immunosuppressed state of cold tumors, promoting sustained immune response.