In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Antifibrotic Properties of Verteporfin in a Composition of a Collagen Scaffold.

Extensive skin damage requires specialized therapy that stimulates regeneration processes without scarring. The possibility of using combination of a collagen gel application as a wound dressing and fibroblast attractant with verteporfin as an antifibrotic agent was examined in vivo and in vitro. In vitro effects of verteporfin on viability and myofibroblast markers expression were evaluated using fibroblasts isolated from human scar tissue. In vivo the collagen gel and verteporfin (individually and in combination) were applied into the wound to investigate scarring during skin regeneration: deviations in skin layer thickness, collagen synthesis, and extracellular matrix fibers were characterized. The results indicate that verteporfin reduces fibrotic phenotype by suppressing expression of the contractile protein Sm22α without inducing cell death. However, administration of verteporfin in combination with the collagen gel disrupts its ability to direct wound healing in a scarless manner, which may be related to incompatibility of the mechanisms by which collagen and verteporfin control regeneration.

The Hippo pathway terminal effector TAZ/WWTR1 mediates oxaliplatin sensitivity in p53 proficient colon cancer cells.

YAP and TAZ, the Hippo pathway terminal transcriptional activators, are frequently upregulated in cancers. In tumor cells, they have been mainly associated with increased tumorigenesis controlling different aspects from cell cycle regulation, stemness, or resistance to chemotherapies. In fewer cases, they have also been shown to oppose cancer progression, including by promoting cell death through the action of the p73/YAP transcriptional complex, in particular after chemotherapeutic drug exposure. Using HCT116 cells, we show here that oxaliplatin treatment led to core Hippo pathway down-regulation and nuclear accumulation of TAZ. We further show that TAZ was required for the increased sensitivity of HCT116 cells to oxaliplatin, an effect that appeared independent of p73, but which required the nuclear relocalization of TAZ. Accordingly, Verteporfin and CA3, two drugs affecting the activity of YAP and TAZ, showed antagonistic effects with oxaliplatin in co-treatments. Importantly, using several colorectal cell lines, we show that the sensitizing action of TAZ to oxaliplatin is dependent on the p53 status of the cells. Our results support thus an early action of TAZ to sensitize cells to oxaliplatin, consistent with a model in which nuclear TAZ in the context of DNA damage and p53 activity pushes cells towards apoptosis.

Hyaluronic acid modified nanocarriers for aerosolized delivery of verteporfin in the treatment of acute lung injury.

Verteporfin (VER), a photosensitizer used in macular degeneration therapy, has shown promise in controlling macrophage polarization and alleviating inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, its hydrophobicity, limited bioavailability, and side effects hinder its therapeutic potential. In this study, we aimed to enhance the therapeutic potential of VER through pulmonary nebulized drug delivery for ALI/ARDS treatment. We combined hydrophilic hyaluronic acid (HA) with an oil-in-water system containing a poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymer of VER to synthesize HA@PLGA-VER (PHV) nanoparticles with favorable surface characteristics to improve the bioavailability and targeting ability of VER. PHV possesses suitable electrical properties, a narrow size distribution (approximately 200 nm), and favorable stability. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the excellent biocompatibility, safety, and anti-inflammatory responses of the PHV by suppressing M1 macrophage polarization while inducing M2 polarization. The in vivo experiments indicated that the treatment with aerosolized nano-VER (PHV) allowed more drugs to accumulate and penetrate into the lungs, improved the pulmonary function and attenuated lung injury, and mortality of ALI mice, achieving improved therapeutic outcomes. These findings highlight the potential of PHV as a promising delivery system via nebulization for enhancing the therapeutic effects of VER in ALI/ARDS.

Comparison of photodynamic therapy with two different parameters combined with subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab for corneal neovascularization.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, no studies have been performed to determine the optimal parameters of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab for corneal neovascularization. This study aimed to compare the effect of photodynamic therapy with two different sets of parameters combined with subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab for corneal neovascularization. METHODS: Patients with stable corneal neovascularization (CNV) unresponsive to conventional treatment (topical steroid) were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups, receiving PDT with two different sets of parameters (group 1 receiving fluence of 50 J/cm2 at 15 min after intravenous injection of verteporfin with, group 2 receiving fluence of 150 J/cm2 at 60 min after intravenous injection of verteporfin with). Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab was performed immediately after PDT. All patients were followed for 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure were evaluated, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy as well as digital photography were performed. Average diameter and cumulative length of corneal neovascular were measured to evaluate the corneal neovascularization. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (20 eyes) were included in this study. At the last visit, the vision was improved in 12 eyes (60 %), steady in 4 eyes (20 %) and worsen in 4 eyes (20 %). The intraocular pressure (IOP) of all patients remained in normal range. A significant decrease in corneal neovascularization was showed in all the eyes after treatment. At 6 months after the combined treatment, the average diameter and cumulative length of vessels significantly decreased to 0.041 ± 0.023 mm (P < 0.05) and 18.78 ± 17.73 mm (P < 0.05), respectively, compared with the pretreatment data (0.062 ± 0.015 mm, 31.48 ± 18.21 mm). The reduction was more remarkable in group 2 compared to group 1.In group 1, the average diameter was 0.062 ± 0.013mm before and 0.056 ± 0.017mm after, the cumulative length of vessels was 38.66 ± 22.55mm before and 31.21 ± 17.30 after. In group 2, the date were 0.061 ± 0.016mm before and 0.029 ± 0.020mm after, 25.60 ± 8.95 mm before and 8.61 ± 8.26 mm. The reported complications included epithelial defect in four eyes, small white filaments in two eyes and corneal epithelial erosion in two eyes. CONCLUSION: The PDT combined with subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab was effective for the chronic corneal neovascularization. A more promising treatment outcome was observed when PDT was performed at 60 min after intravenous injection of verteporfin with fluence of 150 J/cm2. No serious complications or systemic events were observed throughout the follow-up period.

Combination of Molecule-Targeted Therapy and Photodynamic Therapy Using Nanoformulated Verteporfin for Effective Uveal Melanoma Treatment.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary ocular malignancy in adults and has high mortality. Recurrence, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance are frequently observed in UM, but no beneficial systemic therapy is available, presenting an urgent need for developing effective therapeutic drugs. Verteporfin (VP) is a photosensitizer and a Yes-Associated Protein (YAP) inhibitor that has been used in clinical practice. However, VP's lack of tumor targetability, poor biocompatibility, and relatively low treatment efficacy hamper its application in UM management. Herein, we developed a biocompatible CD44-targeting hyaluronic acid nanoparticle (HANP) carrying VP (HANP/VP) to improve UM treatment efficacy. We found that HANP/VP showed a stronger inhibitory effect on cell proliferation than that of free VP in UM cells. Systemic delivery of HANP/VP led to targeted accumulation in the UM-tumor-bearing mouse model. Notably, HANP/VP mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) significantly inhibited UM tumor growth after laser irradiation compared with no treatment or free VP treatment. Consistently, in HANP/VP treated tumors after laser irradiation, the tumor proliferation and YAP expression level were decreased, while the apoptotic tumor cell and CD8+ immune cell levels were elevated, contributing to effective tumor growth inhibition. Overall, the results of this preclinical study showed that HANP/VP is an effective nanomedicine for tumor treatment through PDT and inhibition of YAP in the UM tumor mouse model. Combining phototherapy and molecular-targeted therapy offers a promising approach for aggressive UM management.

Carrier-Free, Amorphous Verteporfin Nanodrug for Enhanced Photodynamic Cancer Therapy and Brain Drug Delivery.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is hard to treat due to cellular invasion into functioning brain tissues, limited drug delivery, and evolved treatment resistance. Recurrence is nearly universal even after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves photosensitizer administration followed by light activation to generate reactive oxygen species at tumor sites, thereby killing cells or inducing biological changes. PDT can ablate unresectable GBM and sensitize tumors to chemotherapy. Verteporfin (VP) is a promising photosensitizer that relies on liposomal carriers for clinical use. While lipids increase VP's solubility, they also reduce intracellular photosensitizer accumulation. Here, a pure-drug nanoformulation of VP, termed "NanoVP", eliminating the need for lipids, excipients, or stabilizers is reported. NanoVP has a tunable size (65-150 nm) and 1500-fold higher photosensitizer loading capacity than liposomal VP. NanoVP shows a 2-fold increase in photosensitizer uptake and superior PDT efficacy in GBM cells compared to liposomal VP. In mouse models, NanoVP-PDT improved tumor control and extended animal survival, outperforming liposomal VP and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Moreover, low-dose NanoVP-PDT can safely open the blood-brain barrier, increasing drug accumulation in rat brains by 5.5-fold compared to 5-ALA. NanoVP is a new photosensitizer formulation that has the potential to facilitate PDT for the treatment of GBM.

High-Performance Photodynamic Therapy of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Multifunctional Nano-Verteporfin.

Background: The photodynamic therapy (PDT) showed promising potential in treating tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). The Food and Drug Administration approved Verteporfin (Ver) is a powerful alternative in this field for its penetrating power and high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, its applications in the treatment of TSCC are still rare. Methods: Ver was loaded onto Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, followed by the modification with RGD peptide as the ligand. The nanostructured was named as RPV. In vitro assessments were conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity of RPV through the Live/Dead assay analysis and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Using the reactive oxygen species assay kit, the potential for inducing targeted tumor cell death upon laser irradiation by promoting ROS production was investigated. In vivo experiments involved with the biological distribution of RPV, the administration with RPV followed by laser irradiation, and the measurement of the tumor volumes. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect the Ki-67 expression, and apoptosis induced by RPV-treated group. Systemic toxicity was evaluated through hematoxylin-eosin staining and blood routine analysis. Real-time monitoring was employed to track RPV accumulation at tumor sites. Results: The in vitro assessments demonstrated the low cytotoxicity of RPV and indicated its potential for targeted killing TSCC cells under laser irradiation. In vivo experiments revealed significant tumor growth inhibition with RPV treatment and laser irradiation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a notable decrease in Ki-67 expression, suggesting the effective suppression of cell proliferation, and TUNEL assay indicated the increased apoptosis in the RPV-treated group. Pathological examination and blood routine analysis revealed no significant systemic toxicity. Real-time monitoring exhibited selective accumulation of RPV at tumor sites. Conclusion: The findings collectively suggest that RPV holds promise as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for TSCC, offering a combination of targeted drug delivery with photodynamic therapy.

Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and combined photodynamic therapy for pachychoroid neovasculopathy: long-term treatment outcomes.

PURPOSE: To examine the long-term visual outcomes after initial treatment with combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) or aflibercept treat-and-extend (TAE) monotherapy in patients with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PNV, initially treated with PDT combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) monotherapy in the TAE protocol and followed up for at least 6 months, were included in the study. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Survival analysis was performed, in which deterioration in logMAR visual acuity by 0.1 or 0.3 is defined as "death." The annual number of treatments was also analyzed. Sub-analysis was performed on 33 patients diagnosed with PNV without polypoidal lesions. RESULTS: This study included 46 patients (23 in the initial combined PDT group and 23 in the IVA TAE group). Mean age, sex, mean baseline logMAR visual acuity, or duration of observation (3.6 ± 3.2 years vs. 3.1 ± 1.9 years) in both groups were comparable. As for visual outcome, no significant differences were found in survival analysis based on worsening of 0.1 or 0.3 logMAR (3-year survival; 26% vs. 26%, 91% vs. 90%, respectively). Meanwhile, the additional number of anti-VEGF injections per year was significantly lower in the initial combined PDT group than in the IVA TAE group (1.0 ± 1.3 vs. 4.1 ± 1.5, p < 0.0001). No significant differences were found in the number of additional PDTs per year (0.07 ± 0.20 vs. 0.02 ± 0.09, p = 0.27). Similar results were found in a sub-analysis of 33 patients without polyps. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of PNV, regardless of the presence of polyps, the long-term visual outcomes were similar between the initial combined PDT and IVA TAE monotherapy. However, the annual number of anti-VEGF injections was lower in the initial combined PDT group than in the aflibercept TAE group, whereas that of PDT was comparable.

Role of YAP in Odontoblast Damage Repair in a Dentin Hypersensitivity Model.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying odontoblast damage repair in dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and the role of Yes-associated protein (YAP) in this process. METHODS: The DH model was constructed in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and the in vivo expression of Piezo1, Integrin αvß3, YAP, and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was detected by immunohistochemistry. COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to simulate the dentinal tubule fluid flow velocity and corresponding fluid shear stress (FSS) on the odontoblast processes. MDPC-23 cells were cultured in vitro and loaded with a peristaltic pump for 1 hour at FSS values of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 dyne/cm2. The expression of Piezo1, Integrin αvß3, and YAP was detected by immunofluorescence. Verteporfin (a YAP-specific inhibitor) was utilised to confirm the effect of YAP on the expression of dentineogenesis-related protein under FSS. RESULTS: The level and duration of external mechanical stimuli have an effect on the functional expression of odontoblasts. In DH, the harder the food that is chewed, the faster the flow of the dentinal tubule fluid and the greater the FSS on the odontoblast processes. The expression of Piezo1, Integrin αvß3, and YAP can be promoted when the FSS is less than 0.3 dyne/cm2. After YAP inhibition, the DSPP protein expression level was reduced at 0.3 dyne/cm2 FSS. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that appropriate FSS can enhance the expression of odontoblast-related factors in odontoblasts via the Piezo1-Integrin αvß3-YAP mechanotransduction pathway and the YAP appears to play an essential role in the response of odontoblasts to external mechanical stimuli.

Verteporfin induces lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has extremely poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 11 %. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a major downstream effector of the Hippo-YAP pathway and plays a pivotal role in regulation of cell proliferation and organ regeneration and tumorigenesis. Activation of YAP signaling has been associated with PDAC progression and drug resistance. Verteporfin (VP) is a photosensitizer used for photodynamic therapy and previous work showed that it can function as a YAP inhibitor. The efficacy of VP on human cancer are being tested in several trials. In this study, we examined the effect of VP on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation in pancreatic cancer cells, by using fluorescent molecular probes and by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde, a metabolic byproduct and marker of lipid peroxidation. We found that VP causes rapid increase of both overall ROS and lipid peroxide levels, independent of light activation. These effects were not dependent on YAP, as knockdown of YAP did not cause ROS or lipid peroxidation or enhance VP-induced ROS production. Temoporfin, another photodynamic drug, did not show similar activities. In addition, VP treatment led to loss of cell membrane integrity and reduction of viability. Notably, the activity of VP to induce lipid peroxidation was neutralized by ferroptosis inhibitors ferrostatin-1 or liproxstatin-1. VP treatment also reduced the levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), an enzyme that protects against lipid peroxidation. These results indicate that VP can induce lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in the absence of light activation. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which VP inhibits tumor growth and provide insights into development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Half-dose photodynamic therapy versus 577 nm subthreshold pulse laser therapy in treatment-naive patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

BACKGROUND: To compare real-life anatomical and functional outcomes of half-dose photodynamic therapy (HD-PDT) and 577 nm subthreshold pulse laser therapy (SPL) in treatment-naïve patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive treatment-naïve CSC patients with non-resolving subretinal fluid (SRF) for more than 2 months who received either HD-PDT or SPL treatment. One repetition of the same treatment was allowed in patients with persistent SRF after first treatment. Functional and anatomical outcomes were assessed after first treatment and at final visit. RESULTS: We included 95 patients (HD-PDT group, n = 49; SPL group, n = 46). Complete resolution of SRF after a single treatment was observed in 42.9% of HD-PDT-treated patients (n = 21; median time to resolution 7.1 weeks) and in 41.3% of SPL-treated patients (n = 19; median time to resolution 7.0 weeks). In the HD-PDT-group, 44.9% of patients (n = 22) and in the SPL-group, 43.5% (n = 20) of patients, received a second treatment due to persistent SRF, while 12.2% (n = 6) and 15.2% (n = 7), respectively, opted against a second treatment despite persistent SRF. After the final treatment, complete SRF resolution was observed in 61.2% of all HD-PDT-treated patients (n = 30; median time to resolution 8.8 weeks) and 60.9% of all SPL-treated patients (n = 28; median time to resolution 13.7 weeks, p = 0.876). In the final visit, both groups showed significant improvement of BCVA in comparison to baseline (p < 0.001 for all). The change in BCVA from baseline to final visit was similar for the two groups (HD-PDT, median BCVA change 0.10 logMAR (IQR: 0.0-0.2); in SPL group, median BCVA change 0.10 logMAR (IQR: 0.0-0.2), P = 0.344). The CSC subclassification (simple versus complex) had no influence on the anatomical or functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: High-density 577 nm SPL resulted in as good anatomical and functional treatment as HD-PDT and may thus represent a treatment alternative to HD-PDT in CSC.

Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for central serous chorioretinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a prevalent exudative maculopathy and the ongoing verteporfin shortage restricts current treatment possibilities. Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) have previously been proposed as a treatment for CSC, although its exact efficacy remains unclear. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we outlined the efficacy of topical NSAIDs for the treatment of CSC. We searched 11 literature databases on 13 December 2022, for any study describing topical NSAID treatment for CSC. Thirteen eligible studies were included with a total of 1001 eyes of 994 patients with CSC. Six studies were case reports, two were cohort studies and five were non-randomized comparative studies. Where specified, topical NSAIDs used were bromfenac 0.09%, diclofenac 0.1%, ketorolac 0.4% and 0.5%, pranoprofen 0.1%, and nepafenac 0.1% and 0.3%. Studies were predominantly of cases with acute CSC and several case studies reported treatment outcomes simultaneously with discontinuation of corticosteroid use, which complicated treatment evaluation. Meta-analyses of comparative studies revealed a statistically significant but clinically irrelevant best-corrected visual acuity improvement of -0.04 logMAR (95% CI: -0.07 to -0.01 logMAR; p = 0.01) at 1-month follow-up, which became statistically insignificant at 3-month follow-up (-0.03 logMAR; 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.003 logMAR; p = 0.08). Further, we found no benefit in complete subretinal fluid resolution at 1-month follow-up (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 0.81-1.76; p = 0.37) or 3-month follow-up (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.59; p = 0.33). Taken together, available evidence does not support the use of topical NSAIDs for the treatment of CSC.

Verteporfin regulates corneal neovascularization through inhibition of YAP protein activation.

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a vision-threatening disease that is becoming a growing public health concern. While Yes-associated protein (YAP) plays a critical role in neovascular disease and allow for the sprouting angiogenesis. Verteporfin (VP) is a classical inhibitor of the YAP-TEAD complex, which is used for clinical treatment of neovascular macular degeneration through photodynamic therapy. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of verteporfin (VP) on the inhibition of CNV and its potential mechanism. Rat CNV model were established by suturing in the central cornea and randomly divided into three groups (control, CNV and VP group). Neovascularization was observed by slit lamp to extend along the corneal limbus to the suture line. RNA-sequencing was used to reveal the related pathways on the CNV and the results revealed the vasculature development process and genes related with angiogenesis in CNV. In CNV group, we detected the nuclear translocation of YAP and the expression of CD31 in corneal neovascular endothelial cells through immunofluorescence. After the application of VP, the proliferation, migration and the tube formation of HUVECs were significantly inhibited. Furthermore, VP showed the CNV inhibition by tail vein injection without photoactivation. Then we found that the expression of phosphorylated YAP significantly decreased, and its downstream target protein connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) increased in the CNV group, while the expression was just opposite in other groups. Besides, both the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and cofilin significantly increased in CNV group, and decreased after VP treatment. Therefore, we conclude that Verteporfin could significantly inhibited the CNV without photoactivation by regulating the activation of YAP.

Seven-year outcomes of combined treatment of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor with photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy; according to polypoidal lesion regression.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term prognosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT), according to polypoidal lesion regression. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the data of 33 naïve eyes with PCV treated with anti-VEGF combined with verteporfin PDT and followed-up for at least 7 years. The collected data included demographic profile, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT), PED volume, and presence of submacular hemorrhage. Regression of polypoidal lesion was determined using indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography. All eyes were divided into regression or persistent groups, based on the polypoidal lesion regression one year after the initial combined treatment. RESULTS: BCVA improvement was maintained for 3 years in the regression (p = 0.001) and 1 year in the persistent (p = 0.006) groups, respectively. The mean BCVA of the regression group was better than that of the persistent group over 7 years, but the difference was significant only at 1 year (p = 0.037). The number of eyes which maintained BCVA less than or equal to 0.3 logMAR at 7 years was 11 eyes (64.7%) in regression group and 4 eyes (25.0%) in persistent group (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Regression of the polypoidal lesion at 1 year after the initial combination treatment was associated with favorable long-term visual prognosis, particularly in terms of maintaining good visual acuity.

Nano-Photosensitizer Directed Targeted Phototherapy Effective Against Oral Cancer in Animal Model.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising strategy for oral cancer treatment. Verteporfin is a powerful photosensitizer and widely used in the treatment of macular degeneration. However, rare work has reported its potential in the treatment of oral cancer. Methods: In this study, we introduce an innovative approach of nano-photosensitizer based on Verteporfin, which was prepared by utilizing macrophage membrane to coat Verteporfin-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) for effective photodynamic therapy against oral cancer. Nanoparticle characteristics were assessed including size, zeta potential, and PDI. Cellular uptake studies were conducted using CAL-27 cells. Furthermore, inhibitory effects in both in vitro and in vivo settings were observed, ensuring biosafety. Assessment of anticancer efficacy involved tumor volume measurement, histological analyses, and immunohistochemical staining. Results: In vitro experiments indicated that the nano-photosensitizer showed efficient cellular uptake in the oral cancer cells. Upon the laser irradiation, the nano-photosensitizer induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to cancer cell apoptosis. The in vivo experiments indicated that the coating with cell membranes enhanced the circulation time of nano-photosensitizer. Moreover, the specificity of the nano-photosensitizer to the cancer cells was also improved by the cell membrane-camouflaged structure in the tumor-bearing mouse model, which inhibited the tumor growth significantly by the photodynamic effect in the presence of laser irradiation. Conclusion: Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of macrophage membrane-coated ZIF-8-based nanoparticles loaded with Verteporfin for effective photodynamic therapy in oral cancer treatment. This nano-system holds promise for synergistic cancer therapy by combining the cytotoxic effects of PDT with the activation of the immune system, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for combating cancer.

Combination of verteporfin-photodynamic therapy with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine enhances the anti-tumour immune response in triple negative breast cancer.

Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer characterised by its high tumourigenic, invasive, and immunosuppressive nature. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a focal therapy that uses light to activate a photosensitizing agent and induce a cytotoxic effect. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-ADC) is a clinically approved immunomodulatory chemotherapy agent. The mechanism of the combination therapy using PDT and 5-ADC in evoking an anti-tumour response is not fully understood. Methods: The present study examined whether a single dose of 5-ADC enhances the cytotoxic and anti-tumour immune effect of low dose PDT with verteporfin as the photosensitiser in a TNBC orthotopic syngeneic murine model, using the triple negative murine mammary tumour cell line 4T1. Histopathology analysis, digital pathology and immunohistochemistry of treated tumours and distant sites were assessed. Flow cytometry of splenic and breast tissue was used to identify T cell populations. Bioinformatics were used to identify tumour immune microenvironments related to TNBC patients. Results: Functional experiments showed that PDT was most effective when used in combination with 5-ADC to optimize its efficacy. 5-ADC/PDT combination therapy elicited a synergistic effect in vitro and was significantly more cytotoxic than monotherapies on 4T1 tumour cells. For tumour therapy, all types of treatments demonstrated histopathologically defined margins of necrosis, increased T cell expression in the spleen with absence of metastases or distant tissue destruction. Flow cytometry and digital pathology results showed significant increases in CD8 expressing cells with all treatments, whereas only the 5-ADC/PDT combination therapy showed increase in CD4 expression. Bioinformatics analysis of in silico publicly available TNBC data identified BCL3 and BCL2 as well as the following anti-tumour immune response biomarkers as significantly altered in TNBC compared to other breast cancer subtypes: GZMA, PRF1, CXCL1, CCL2, CCL4, and CCL5. Interestingly, molecular biomarker assays showed increase in anti-tumour response genes after treatment. The results showed concomitant increase in BCL3, with decrease in BCL2 expression in TNBC treatment. In addition, the treatments showed decrease in PRF1, CCL2, CCL4, and CCL5 genes with 5-ADC and 5-ADC/PDT treatment in both spleen and breast tissue, with the latter showing the most decrease. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows which of the innate and adaptive immune biomarkers are activated during PDT related treatment of the TNBC 4T1 mouse models. The results also indicate that some of the immune response biomarkers can be used to monitor the effectiveness of PDT treatment in TNBC murine model warranting further investigation in human subjects.

Examining the efficacy of verteporfin photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) at different dose & fluence levels.

OBJECTIVES: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a vaso-occlusive treatment for a number of chorioretinal vascular pathologies. We aimed to retrospectively analyse efficiency and safety of PDT for different conditions (central serous retinopathy (CSR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular telangiectasia type 2 and choroidal hemangioma) and with different verteporfin parameters. METHODS: Clinical parameters were ascertained from the medical records of patients undergoing PDT over a 6-year period. This included indications for PDT, dosing regimens of verteporfin PDT (which includes treatment dose of verteporfin and fluence). Response to treatment was measured by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) on ocular coherence tomography. Complications and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: 67.4 % (31/46) of PDT treatments performed over the last six years were for CSR. In the CSR cohort, there were significant improvements in BCVA (0.47 ± 0.24 to 0.29 ± 0.27, p < 0.05) and CFT (350.2µm ± 66.9 µm to 286.1µm ± 60.6 µm. In the AMD cohort, there was no change in BCVA (1.08 ± 0.52 to 1.07 ± 0.53, p = 0.96) but significant improvement in CFT (488.2µm ± 164.6 µm to 348.7µm ± 65.7 µm, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in BCVA or CFT for macular telangiectasia type 2 and choroidal hemangioma. CONCLUSIONS: PDT continues to have a role in the management of medical retina conditions. Our results show PDT is most effective in improving and stabilizing visual acuity in CSR, with earlier intervention resulting in better outcomes.

Verteporfin Suppresses YAP-Induced Glycolysis in Breast Cancer Cells.

OBJECTIVE: The inhibition of the Hippo pathway through targeting the Yes-associated protein (YAP) presents a novel and promising approach for treating tumors. However, the efficacy of YAP inhibitors in the context of breast cancer (BC) remains incompletely understood. Here, we aimed to investigate the involvement of YAP in BC's metabolic reprogramming and reveal the potential underlying mechanisms. To this end, we assessed the function of verteporfin (VP), a YAP-TEAD complex inhibitor, on the glycolytic activity of BC cells. METHODS: We evaluated the expression of YAP by utilizing immunohistochemistry (IHC) in BC patients who have undergone 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) prior to biopsy/surgery. We employed RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assays to assess the interaction between YAP mRNA and human antigen R (HuR) in BC cells. The biological importance of YAP in the metabolism and malignancy of BC was evaluated in vitro. Finally, the effect of VP on glycolysis was determined by using 18F-FDG uptake, glucose consumption, and lactate production assays. RESULTS: Our studies revealed that high expression of YAP was positively correlated with the maximum uptake value (SUVmax) determined by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in BC samples. Inhibition of YAP activity suppressed glycolysis in BC. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon could be the binding of YAP to HuR, which promotes glycolysis in BC cells. Treatment with VP effectively suppressed glycolysis induced by YAP overexpression in BC cells. CONCLUSION: VP exhibited anti-glycolytic effect on BC cells, indicating its therapeutic value as an FDA-approved drug.

Red Light-Triggered Anti-Angiogenic and Photodynamic Combination Therapy of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the key pathological event of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) leading to irreversible vision loss. Currently, anti-angiogenic therapy with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents has become the standard treatment for wAMD, while it is still subject to several limitations, including the safety concerns of monthly intravitreal administration and insufficient efficacy for neovascular occlusion. Combined therapy with photodynamic therapy (PDT) and anti-angiogenic agents has emerged as a novel treatment paradigm. Herein, a novel and less-invasive approach is reported to achieve anti-angiogenic and photodynamic combination therapy of wAMD by intravenous administration of a photoactivatable nanosystem (Di-DAS-VER NPs). The nanosystem is self-assembled by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive dasatinib (DAS) prodrug and photosensitizer verteporfin (VER). After red-light irradiation to the diseased eyes, intraocular release of anti-angiogenic DAS is observed, together with selective neo-vessels occlusion by VER-generated ROS. Notably, Di-DAS-VER NPs demonstrates promising therapeutic efficacy against CNV with minimized systemic toxicity. The study enables an efficient intravenous wAMD therapy by integrating a photoactivation process with combinational therapeutics into one simple nanosystem.