Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translation
Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a non-invasive and highly selective method for cancer treatment, has gained increasing attention due to its unique ability to activate a photosensitizer with near-infrared laser irradiation, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing cytotoxic effects on tumors...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1607259/full |
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| author | Daohong Kan Rong Ding Huchuan Yang Yuming Jia Kaijian Lei Zhongming Wang Wei Zhang Chaokun Yang Zongjunlin Liu Fang Xie |
| author_facet | Daohong Kan Rong Ding Huchuan Yang Yuming Jia Kaijian Lei Zhongming Wang Wei Zhang Chaokun Yang Zongjunlin Liu Fang Xie |
| author_sort | Daohong Kan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a non-invasive and highly selective method for cancer treatment, has gained increasing attention due to its unique ability to activate a photosensitizer with near-infrared laser irradiation, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing cytotoxic effects on tumors. However, PDT faces challenges such as the shallow penetration depth of the laser impacting treatment efficacy and the variability in ROS yield depending on various factors. Recent advancements in nanotechnology have paved the way for solutions, showing promising results in addressing these limitations. Therefore, there is rising interest in utilizing PDT in combination with other therapeutic modalities to enhance its anti-tumor efficacy. This review aims to compile relevant basic experiments and clinical studies on the principles, mechanisms, and various combination therapies of PDT, including with photothermal therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The findings from these studies consistently confirm that photodynamic combination therapy achieves a higher therapeutic index with lower side effects compared to the use of these modalities individually. The demonstrated synergistic effects and enhanced therapeutic outcomes in various studies underscore the need for additional research and development in this direction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a9c638a37b6945dc9536a7e7a43d2acb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a9c638a37b6945dc9536a7e7a43d2acb2025-08-20T03:09:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-07-011510.3389/fonc.2025.16072591607259Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translationDaohong Kan0Rong Ding1Huchuan Yang2Yuming Jia3Kaijian Lei4Zhongming Wang5Wei Zhang6Chaokun Yang7Zongjunlin Liu8Fang Xie9Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gongxian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Gongxian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, The Second People’s Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, ChinaPhotodynamic therapy (PDT), a non-invasive and highly selective method for cancer treatment, has gained increasing attention due to its unique ability to activate a photosensitizer with near-infrared laser irradiation, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing cytotoxic effects on tumors. However, PDT faces challenges such as the shallow penetration depth of the laser impacting treatment efficacy and the variability in ROS yield depending on various factors. Recent advancements in nanotechnology have paved the way for solutions, showing promising results in addressing these limitations. Therefore, there is rising interest in utilizing PDT in combination with other therapeutic modalities to enhance its anti-tumor efficacy. This review aims to compile relevant basic experiments and clinical studies on the principles, mechanisms, and various combination therapies of PDT, including with photothermal therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The findings from these studies consistently confirm that photodynamic combination therapy achieves a higher therapeutic index with lower side effects compared to the use of these modalities individually. The demonstrated synergistic effects and enhanced therapeutic outcomes in various studies underscore the need for additional research and development in this direction.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1607259/fullmalignant tumorcombination therapycurative effectmechanismimaging-guided |
| spellingShingle | Daohong Kan Rong Ding Huchuan Yang Yuming Jia Kaijian Lei Zhongming Wang Wei Zhang Chaokun Yang Zongjunlin Liu Fang Xie Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translation Frontiers in Oncology malignant tumor combination therapy curative effect mechanism imaging-guided |
| title | Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translation |
| title_full | Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translation |
| title_fullStr | Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translation |
| title_short | Synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer: mechanisms, nanotechnology, and clinical translation |
| title_sort | synergistic strategies in photodynamic combination therapy for cancer mechanisms nanotechnology and clinical translation |
| topic | malignant tumor combination therapy curative effect mechanism imaging-guided |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1607259/full |
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