Immuno-photodynamic therapy of cancer

Abstract

This thesis provides novel insights in the capacity of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to disrupt the tumor and its vasculature for improved accumulation of nanosized drug carriers in the tumor. Moreover, it has shown the importance of the origin and physiological state of extracellular vesicles used as carriers for photosensitizers. It has also expanded knowledge of PDT-induced immunogenic cell death through damage-associated molecular pattern exposure and release that can initiate specific antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, several chapters identify combinations of PDT and immunotherapy that improve the therapeutic efficacy compared to currently used treatment options. Future studies that further investigate ways to benefit from the immunostimulatory effects of PDT hold great promise and may introduce exciting new modalities for improved treatments of cancer.