title: Targeted Therapy of Cancer Using Photodynamic Therapy in Combination with Multi-faceted Anti-Tumor Modalities.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as one of the important therapeutic options in the management of cancer and other diseases. PDT involves a tumor-localized photosensitizer (PS), which when appropriately illuminated by visible light converts oxygen into cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), that attack key structural entities within the targeted cells, ultimately resulting in necrosis or apoptosis. Though PDT is a selective modality, it can be further enhanced by combining other targeted therapeutic strategies that include the use of synthetic peptides and nanoparticles for selective delivery of photosensitizers. Another potentially promising strategy is the application of targeted therapeutics that exploit a myriad of critical pathways involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Vascular disrupting agents that eradicate tumor vasculature during PDT and anti-angiogenic agents that targets specific molecular pathways and prevent the formation of new blood vessels are novel therapeutic approaches that have been shown to improve treatment outcome. In addition to the well-documented mechanisms of direct cell killing and damage to the tumor vasculature, PDT can also activate the body's immune response against tumors. Numerous pre-clinical studies and clinical observations have demonstrated the immuno-stimulatory capability of PDT. Herein, we aim to integrate the most important findings with regard to the combination of PDT and other novel targeted therapy approaches, detailing its potential in cancer photomedicine.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore. dmsmcd@nccs.com.sg.|Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Biomedical Sciences Institutes, 11 Biopolis Way, #02-02 Helios, 138667, Singapore. dmsmcd@nccs.com.sg.|School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. dmsmcd@nccs.com.sg.|Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, No. 18 Science Drive 4, Block S4, 117543, Singapore. dmsmcd@nccs.com.sg.
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivo
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore. dmsram@nccs.com.sg.
authors.forename: Ramaswamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhuvaneswari
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore. lucky.s.s@nccs.com.sg.
authors.forename: Sasidharan Swarnalatha
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lucky
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore. nagamani.p@nccs.com.sg.
authors.forename: Nagamani
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dendukuri
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, 169610, Singapore. nmstsp@nccs.com.sg.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soo-Ping Thong
keywords: anti-angiogenesis; immune response; nanoparticles; peptides; photodynamic therapy (PDT); targeted therapy; vascular PDT