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Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Studies / Nanoplatforms for Cancer Theranostics / Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies · Journal article
Cancer Cell International · September 7, 2026
Raises a question worth testing. It does not answer one.
This systematic review of 24 preclinical animal studies found consistent evidence that photodynamic therapy induces local tumor regression and immune activation, with several studies demonstrating abscopal effects particularly when combined with checkpoint inhibitors or adjuvants. The findings are mechanistic and exploratory; clinical translation to humans remains unproven and requires prospective human trials.
Systematic review of preclinical animal studies following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Preclinical animal models studying photodynamic therapy-induced immune responses and abscopal effects, with or without combination with immunotherapies. Intervention: Photodynamic therapy (PDT), alone or combined with programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death ligand-1 blockade or adjuvants.
PDT consistently induced local tumor regression and immune activation, evidenced by damage-associated molecular pattern release, calreticulin exposure, and cytotoxic CD8-positive T lymphocyte infiltration Several studies demonstrated clear abscopal effects, particularly when PDT was combined with programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death ligand-1 blockade or adjuvants Cytokine upregulation, including interleukin-6, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, confirmed robust systemic immune activation
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
These findings suggest potential for PDT to serve as a systemic cancer immunotherapy when optimized and combined with checkpoint inhibition. However, clinical translation remains early; human trials are required before changes to clinical practice can be recommended.
This systematic review of preclinical animal models raises mechanistic questions about PDT's potential to trigger systemic immunity but does not provide clinical evidence sufficient to guide practice or confirm efficacy in humans.
As stated by the source record.
These findings suggest potential for PDT to serve as a systemic cancer immunotherapy when optimized and combined with checkpoint inhibition. However, clinical translation remains early; human trials are required before changes to clinical practice can be recommended.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
What is missing. This record has no reported figures. That is a gap in the analysis, not a judgement about the study.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light-activated treatment that induces tumor cell death through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). There is emerging evidence that PDT can also elicit systemic antitumor immunity (abscopal effect) through the mechanisms of immunogenic cell death and immune reprogramming. The aim of this review was to systematically evaluate preclinical evidence of the abscopal and systemic immune responses induced by PDT. Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched up to September 2025. Eligible studies included animal models assessing distant tumor regression or systemic immune activation following PDT, with or without combination therapies. Twenty-four preclinical studies met the inclusion criteria. PDT consistently induced local tumor regression and immune activation, evidenced by damage-associated molecular pattern release, calreticulin exposure, and cytotoxic CD8-positive T lymphocyte infiltration. Several studies demonstrated clear abscopal effects, particularly when PDT was combined with programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death ligand 1 blockade or adjuvants. Reported cytokine upregulation, including interleukin-6, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, confirmed robust systemic immune activation. Preclinical and early clinical studies suggested that PDT could be used to induce systemic, immune-mediated tumor control, similar to the abscopal effect. Optimizing treatment parameters and combination with immunotherapies may allow PDT to develop from a local, cytotoxic treatment to a systemic cancer immunotherapy.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.