title: Laser Therapy Inhibits Tumor Growth in Mice by Promoting Immune Surveillance and Vessel Normalization.
abstract: Laser therapy, recently renamed as photobiomodulation, stands as a promising supportive treatment for oral mucositis induced by oncological therapies. However, its mechanisms of action and, more importantly, its safety in cancer patients, are still unclear. Here we explored the anti-cancer effect of 3 laser protocols, set at the most commonly used wavelengths, in B16F10 melanoma and oral carcinogenesis mouse models. While laser light increased cell metabolism in cultured cells, the in vivo outcome was reduced tumor progression. This striking, unexpected result, was paralleled by the recruitment of immune cells, in particular T lymphocytes and dendritic cells, which secreted type I interferons. Laser light also reduced the number of highly angiogenic macrophages within the tumor mass and promoted vessel normalization, an emerging strategy to control tumor progression. Collectively, these results set photobiomodulation as a safety procedure in oncological patients and open the way to its innovative use for cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy; Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ottaviani
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy; Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rupel
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caronni
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naseem
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zandonà
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perinetti
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Lenarda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bussani
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy; Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giacca
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital of Trieste, Piazza dell'Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biasotto
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy; Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: zacchign@icgeb.org.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zacchigna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053685:Laser Therapy; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons