Photodynamic Therapy Of Breast Cancer Research Articles

Development of Liposomes Loaded with Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine for Application of Photodynamic Therapy in Breast Cancer

Chloraluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) has potential therapeutic effect for the treatment of cancer; however, the molecule is lipophilic and may present self-aggregation which limits its clinical success. Thus, nanocarriers like liposomes can improve ClAlPc solubility, reduce off-site toxicity and increase circulation time. For this purpose, developing suitable liposomes requires the evaluation of different lipid compositions. Herein, we aimed to develop liposomes containing soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero- 3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPEPEG2000), cholesterol and oleic acid loaded with ClAlPc using the surface response methodology and the Box-Behnken design. Liposomes with particle size from 110.93 to 374.97 nm and PdI from 0.265 to 0.468 were obtained. The optimized formulation resulted in 69.09 % of ClAlPc encapsulated, with particle size and polydispersity index, respectively, at 153.20 nm and 0.309, providing stability and aggregation control. Atomic force microscopy revealed vesicles in a spherical or almost spherical shape, while the analyzes by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) suggested that the drug was adequately incorporated into the lipid bilayer of liposomes, in its amorphous state or molecularly dispersed. In vitro studies conducted in breast cancer cells (4T1) showed that liposome improved phototoxicity compared to the ClAlPc solution. ClAlPc-loaded liposomes also enhanced the production of ROS 3-fold compared to the ClAlPc solution. Finally, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry demonstrated the ability of the liposomes to enter cells and deliver the fluorescent ClAlPc photosensitizer with dose and time-dependent effects. Thus, this work showed that Box-Behnken factorial design was an effective strategy for optimizing formulation development. The obtained ClAlPc liposomes can be applied for photodynamic therapy in breast cancer cells.

Facile Synthesis of Novel Ti2C Nano Bipyramids for Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer.

Photo-responsive synergetic therapeutics achieved significant attraction in cancer theranostic due to the versatile characteristics of nanomaterials. There have been substantial efforts in developing the simplest nano-design with exceptional synergistic properties and multifunctionalities. In this work, biocompatible Ti2C MXene nano bipyramids (MNBPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method with dual functionalities of photothermal and photodynamic therapies. The MNBPs shape was obtained from two-dimensional (2D) Ti2C nanosheets by controlling the temperature of the reaction mixture. The structure of these Ti2C MNBPs was characterized by a high-resolution transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The Ti2C NBPs have shown exceptional photothermal properties with increased temperature to 72.3 °C under 808 nm laser irradiation. The designed nano bipyramids demonstrated excellent cellular uptake and biocompatibility. The Ti2C NBP has established a remarkable photothermal therapy (PTT) effect against 4T1 breast cancer cells. Moreover, Ti2C NBPs showed a profound response to UV light (6 mW/cm2) and produced reactive oxygen species, making them useful for photodynamic therapy (PDT). These in-vitro studies pave a new path to tune the properties of photo-responsive MXene nanosheets, indicating a potential use in biomedical applications.

The targeted photodynamic therapy of breast cancer with novel AS1411-indium(III) phthalocyanine conjugates

In the study, the novel indium(III) phthalocyanines containing 4-mercaptopyridine groups as substituents on the peripheral (Pc3) or non-peripheral (Pc8) tetra-and peripheral octa (Pc13) positions were synthesized. After then, the synthesized phthalocyanines were converted to their water-soluble derivatives that are Pc5, Pc10, and Pc15 by the quaternization of the nitrogen atoms on the substituents. These new phthalocyanines have been characterized by various spectroscopic methods such as FT-IR, 1HNMR, elemental analysis, UV–vis, MALDI-TOF mass spectra. Photochemical properties were also investigated for the synthesized phthalocyanines. In this study; quaternized derivatives were studied in DMSO and aqueous solutions, while non-quaternized derivatives were studied only in DMSO. The interaction between AS1411 and three phthalocyanines (Pc5, Pc10, and Pc15) was investigated using spectroscopic methods and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique combined with pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs). The cytotoxic activity of AS1411 and each phthalocyanine was investigated in the MCF-7 and doxorubicin (Dox) resistant MCF-7/DOX-R cell lines in the presence and absence of Dox. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity of Pc5, Pc10, and Pc15 and their AS1411 conjugates was investigated on MCF-7, MCF-7/DOX-R and MCF-10A cells. The IC50 values for MCF-7 cells were found as 1.1, 0.46, and 0.46 mM for Pc5 and 0.58, 0.34, and 0.32 mM for Pc5-AS1411 conjugate in the absence of irradiation and radiation with 7 J and 20 J. The values for MCF-7/DOX-R cells were found 0.81, 0.30, and 0.11 mM for Pc5 and 0.39, 0.12, and 0.15 mM for Pc5-AS1411 conjugate without irradiation and radiation with 7 J and 20 J, respectively. Apoptosis and cell imaging studies showed that conjugation of the phthalocyanines with AS1411 induced apoptosis in both cell lines and increases the intracellular entry of phthalocyanine Pc5.

Quantitative Changes in Pro-Oncogenic and Tumor-Suppressing MicroRNA in the Regional Lymph Node during Photodynamic Therapy of Experimental Breast Cancer.

We studied quantitative changes in microRNAs in the axillary lymph node (regional lymph node of the mammary gland) and in the breast tumor tissue. The quantity of pro-oncogenic microRNAs (miR-21 and miR-221) in the regional lymph node decreased in the group after photodynamic therapy of the breast cancer. At the same time, the quantity of pro-oncogenic miR-27a remained decreased in this group, as well as in the group with breast cancer without treatment. The quantity of tumor-suppressing miR-429 in the regional lymph node after photodynamic therapy of breast cancer remained at the same level with the quantity in the group of rats with breast cancer without treatment.

T4 Phage Display Technology for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

T4 Phage Display Technology for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer in Animal Models and Their Potential Use in Clinical Trials-Role of the Photosensitizers: A Review.

In this article, we reviewed the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for breast cancer (BC) in animal models. These in vivo models imitate the cancer disease progression, aid diagnosis, as well as create opportunities to assess treatment during the approval process for the new drug. BC ranks first among women's cancers. Nowadays, there are many diagnostic methods and therapy options for BC but the majority of them have severe side effects. This article discusses the advantages and some disadvantages of the use of small and large animals used for BC models. A literature review showed that the majority of studies have used large animal models, and recently there has been more interest in developing BC in small animal models. BC cell lines such as MCF-7, BT-474, MDA-MB-231, and 4T1 are commercially available for two-dimensional and three-dimensional in vitro cell cultures and subcutaneous models. The purpose of this article is to discuss the performance of PDT in animal models and its further clinical implications. PDT is known to be a non-invasive therapy, which uses monochromatic light and energy to excite photosensitizers (PSs) for the generation of reactive oxygen species as the required factors. Herein, we discuss the use of five photosensitizers in BC models such as chlorin e6 (Ce6), methylene blue, indocyanine green, 5-aminolevulinic acid, and meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin. The database PubMed and Scopus were searched for keywords: 'photodynamic therapy', 'breast cancer', 'animal model', 'clinical studies', and 'photosensitizer(s)'. The PDT search results in animal experiments and its effect on a living organism indicate the possibility of its application in clinical trials on women with local and disseminated BC. The availability and accessibility of small and large BC animal models enable the progress and trial of cancer drugs for innovative technologies and new diagnostics and treatments.

Mitochondrial-Targeted Gold-Doped Porous Carbon Nanodots for Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

Mitochondrial-Targeted Gold-Doped Porous Carbon Nanodots for Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

Photosensitive Chitosan-Based Injectable Hydrogel Chemically Cross-Linked by Perylene Bisimide Dopamine with Robust Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Enhancer Properties for In Vitro Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer.

Here, we report the fabrication of an antioxidant photosensitizing hydrogel system based on chitosan (CS-Cy/PBI-DOPA) covalently cross-linked with perylene bisimide dopamine (PBI-DOPA) as a photosensitizer. The severe insolubility and low tumor selectivity limitations of perylene were overcome by conjugation with dopamine and then to the chitosan hydrogel. The mechanical and rheological study of CS-Cy/PBI-DOPA photodynamic antioxidant hydrogels illustrated interconnected microporous morphologies with high elasticity, swelling ability, and suitable shear-thinning behavior. Bio-friendly properties, such as biodegradability and biocompatibility, excellent singlet oxygen production abilities, and antioxidant properties were also delivered. The antioxidant effects of the hydrogels control the physiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by photochemical reactions in photodynamic therapy (PDT), which are responsible for oxidative damage to tumor cells while protecting normal cells and tissues from ROS damage, including blood and endothelial cells. In vitro, PDT tests of hydrogels were conducted on two human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. These hydrogels offered more than 90% cell viability in the dark and good photocytotoxicity performance with 53 and 43% cell death for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, which confirmed their promising potential for cancer therapeutic applications.

Nanoscale Two-Dimensional FeII- and CoII-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks of Porphyrin Ligand for the Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

The delivery of biocompatible reagents into cancer cells can elicit an anticancer effect by taking advantage of the unique characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this work, we report that nanoscale two-dimensional FeII- and CoII-based metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) of porphyrin ligand meso-tetrakis (6-(hydroxymethyl) pyridin-3-yl) porphyrin (THPP) can catalyze the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and O2 in the presence of H2O2 that is overexpressed in the TME. Photodynamic therapy consumes the generated O2 to produce a singlet oxygen (1O2). Both •OH and 1O2 are reactive oxygen species (ROS) that inhibit cancer cell proliferation. The FeII- and CoII-based NMOFs were non-toxic in the dark but cytotoxic when irradiated with 660 nm light. This preliminary work points to the potential of porphyrin-based ligands of transition metals as anticancer drugs by synergizing different therapeutic modalities.

Codelivery of dihydroartemisinin and chlorin e6 by copolymer nanoparticles enables boosting photodynamic therapy of breast cancer with low-power irradiation.

Given that chemotherapy as a stand-alone therapeutic strategy may not be sufficient to effectively treat cancer, there is increasing interest in combination of chemotherapy and alternative therapies. Photodynamic therapy has the advantages of high selectivity and low side effects, so the combination of photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy has become one of the most appealing strategies for tumor treatment. In this work, we constructed a nano drug codelivery system (PPDC) to realize the combined treatment of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy through encapsulating chemotherapeutic drug dihydroartemisinin and photosensitizer chlorin e6 in PEG-PCL. The potentials, particle size and morphology of nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. We also investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and drug release ability. The antitumor effect in vitro was investigated by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assays and cell apoptosis experiments, and the potential cell death mechanisms were explored by ROS detection and Western blot analysis. The in vivo antitumor effect of PPDC was evaluated under the guidance of fluorescence imaging. Our work provides a potential antitumor treatment approach and expands the application of dihydroartemisinin for breast cancer therapy.

Targeted photodynamic therapy for breast cancer: the potential of glyconanoparticles.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a non-toxic light sensitive molecule, a photosensitiser, that releases cytotoxic reactive oxygen species upon activation with light of a specific wavelength. Here, glycan-modified 16 nm gold nanoparticles (glycoAuNPs) were explored for their use in targeted PDT, where the photosensitiser was localised to the target cell through selective glycan-lectin interactions. Polyacrylamide (PAA)-glycans were chosen to assess glycan binding to the cell lines. These PAA-glycans indicated the selective uptake of a galactose-derivative PAA by two breast cancer cell lines, SK-BR-3 and MDA-MD-231. Subsequently, AuNPs were modified with a galactose-derivative ligand and an amine derivate of the photosensitiser chlorin e6 was incorporated to the nanoparticle surface via amide bond formation using EDC/NHS coupling chemistry. The dual modified nanoparticles were investigated for the targeted cell killing of breast cancer cells, demonstrating the versatility of using glycoAuNPs for selective binding to different cancer cells and their potential use for targeted PDT.

Photoelectrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide and inhibition of breast cancer cell growth based on a porphyrin derivative modified TiO2 composite

In this paper, TiO2@TCPP composite was prepared by TCPP (5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin) and titanium dioxide. It was used to construct photoelectrochemical sensor for detecting the hydrogen peroxide overexpressed in tumor microenvironment, and its mechanism of reactive oxygen species driven by light was explored, and its inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor cells was confirmed by cell apoptosis experiment. Compared with pure titanium dioxide, the composite TiO2@TCPP can not only absorb visible light which has almost no damage to normal cells, but also catalyze hydrogen peroxide and water to produce hydroxyl radicals which can kill tumor cells. At the same time, the photocurrent response of the composite TiO2@TCPP is stronger, indicating that the composite has good catalytic performance for hydrogen peroxide. The prepared photoelectrochemical sensor can quantitatively detect hydrogen peroxide. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range of hydrogen peroxide is 1.0 × 10−5 mol/L ∼ 3.0 × 10−3 mol/L, and the detection limit is 0.32 μmol/L (S/N = 3). The results show that the composite can be used to fabricate photoelectrochemical sensors to detect hydrogen peroxide in tumor microenvironment, and it also has the application prospect of photodynamic therapy for breast cancer.

Mitochondria-targeted red light-activated superoxide radical-mediated photodynamic therapy of breast cancer

Mitochondria are important regulators of many cellular functions and are considered to be one of the most important subcellular organelles for targeting and delivering photosensitizers due to their high sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, we designed and synthesized two novel based aminophenoxazinone D-A-π-A photosensitizers (PVPC-1 and PVPC-6), which have satisfactory photostable and high absorption coefficients in the near-infrared (NIR) region. PVPC-6 has excellent mitochondrial targeting ability, and can efficiently generate superoxide radical (O2•-) inside mitochondria after red light irradiation, which trigger cancer cell apoptosis.

Injectable and Self-Healing Polysaccharide Hydrogel Loading Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoflakes for Synergistic Photothermal-Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer.

In order to overcome the limitation of traditional therapies for cancer and improve the accuracy of treatment, more advantageous cancer treatment methods need to be explored and studied. As a result, photothermal photodynamic therapy of breast cancer using bovine serum albumin (BSA) modifies molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes. Then the well-dispersed BSA-MoS2 NFs are loaded in the injectable and self-healing polysaccharide hydrogel which is prepared by the reaction of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) and hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) through the formation of Schiff base bonds. The injection and self-healing properties of the nanocomposite hydrogel are investigated. In vitro photothermal and photodynamic investigations demonstrate that BSA-MoS2 NFs possess obvious photothermal conversion and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the irradiation of near infrared (NIR) laser (808nm). In vivo anticancer investigation indicates that the nanocomposite hydrogel can be directly injected and remain in the tumor sites and achieve the synergistic photothermal-photodynamic therapy of cancer.

ROS-responsive Ag-TiO2 hybrid nanorods for enhanced photodynamic therapy of breast cancer and antimicrobial applications

There has been significant interest in designing heterostructured nanoparticles with excellent synergistic properties and multifunctionality. Herein, this work reports on the design of reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) responsive Ag decorated TiO2 hybrid nanorods (HNRs) with dual functionalities of enhanced photodynamic therapy and antibacterial activity. A de-wetting phenomenon was employed to nucleate and crystallize Ag nanoparticles onto the surface of TiO2 nanorods resulting in Ag-TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites. The use of the Pluronic® F-127 polymer, which is permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), remarkably improved the biocompatibility of Ag-TiO2 HNRs tested in 4T1 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, Ag-TiO2 HNRs endocytosed by cancer cells produced high intracellular ROS under UV conditions (5.6 mW cm−2), resulting in cancer cell apoptosis. Similarly, the distinctive features of Ag NPs on TiO2 nanorods slow down the recombination rate of electrons–holes, and exhibited 90% killing efficacy against Escherichia coli (gram-negative/rods) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive/cocci). The potential of photo-activated Ag-TiO2 HNRs, as demonstrated in this work, indicates that this heterostructured material is a promising novel dual-therapeutic strategy against cancer cells and microbial agents.

Upconversion Nanoparticle@Au Core-Satellite Assemblies for In Situ Amplified Imaging of MicroRNA in Living Cells and Combined Cancer Phototherapy.

Stimuli-responsive therapy of cancer with spatial and temporal control is crucial in improving the treatment efficacy and minimizing the side effects. MicroRNA (miRNA) as an important biomarker has become one of the most promising endogenous stimuli for cancer therapy. However, the therapy efficacy is often impeded by the low expression amount of miRNA. Herein, the upconversion nanoparticle@Au (UCNP@Au) core-satellite nanostructures are rationally fabricated for isothermal amplification detection and in situ imaging of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in living cells based on the toehold-mediated strand displacement (TMSD) reaction, which is further applied to miRNA-responsive combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy of breast cancer. The UCNP@Au are constructed by linking AuNPs to photosensitizers Rose Bengal (RB)-loaded UCNPs through DNA hybridization. The upconversion luminescence (UCL) is quenched by AuNPs, resulting in the attenuation of singlet oxygen generation of RB. Once UCNP@Au are internalized into MCF-7 cells, the overexpressed intracellular miR-21 trigger the cyclic disassembly of UCNP@Au through cascade TMSD reactions, which facilitate the restoration of UCL for in situ imaging of miR-21 with signal amplification. Moreover, the released AuNPs are aggregated for photothermal therapy (PTT), while the singlet oxygen generated by RB is enhanced for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Compared with single-mode therapy, the miRNA-activated combinational phototherapy has demonstrated a greatly improved therapeutic efficacy for breast cancer. Therefore, our proposed core-satellite nanostructures cannot only achieve in situ amplified imaging of endogenous miRNA but also provide an effective nanoplatform for stimuli-responsive combinational phototherapy, which hold great prospects in early diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Platelet-biomimetic nanoparticles for in vivo targeted photodynamic therapy of breast cancer

Nanocarrier-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising treatment in cancer therapy. However, the PDT therapeutic efficacy is limited by the lack of specificity, limited intracellular cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Herein, a platelet membrane (Pm) decorated and chlorin e6 loaded liposome (Pm/Lps/Ce6) is developed to improve specific tumor-targeting capability and antitumor responses. Pm/Lps/Ce6 could efficiently improve the cellular internalization of Ce6. Under 660-nm laser irradiation, enough ROS was produced to suppress the growth of tumor cells in vitro. In vivo, the Pm decoration increased cellular uptake of the Ce6 loaded liposome in cancer cells by the tumor-targeting and immune escape capacity and produced a satisfactory inhibitory effect on breast cancer. Our study provides a biomimetic strategy via the biological properties of Pm to improve the antitumor performance of photodynamic therapy for treating breast cancer.

The Neuropeptide Y1 Receptor Ligand-Modified Cell Membrane Promotes Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for Breast Cancer.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), widely regarded as promising materials for application in catalysis and separation, hold an increasingly significant position in drug delivery systems for their high drug loading capacity. Focused specifically on the rational design of targeting and bioresponsive nanovehicles, a neuropeptide Y1 receptor ligand (Y1L)-modified cell membrane camouflaged bioresponsive ZIF system (Y1L-RBC@ZIF-90@Ce6) was constructed for targeted photodynamic therapy of breast cancer. The biomimetic ZIF-based nanocarrier enhanced tumor accumulation by both neuropeptide Y1 receptor-targeted guidance and long-term stability. Y1L served as a good ligand-mediated selective targeting molecule for breast cancer, and red blood cell membrane-camouflaged nanocomposites displayed favorable biocompatibility. With the dual response of the ZIF to pH and adenosine triphosphate, the stimulus responsive photosensitizer Chlorin e6 delivery system effectively suppressed tumors in vivo. This work offers a platform for developing much safer and more efficient photodynamic therapy for the treatment of Y1R-overexpressed breast cancer.

Metal Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy: A Potential Treatment for Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in women worldwide, which seriously threatens women’s physical and mental health. In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown significant advantages in cancer treatment. PDT involves activating photosensitizers with appropriate wavelengths of light, producing transient levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Compared with free photosensitizers, the use of nanoparticles in PDT shows great advantages in terms of solubility, early degradation, and biodistribution, as well as more effective intercellular penetration and targeted cancer cell uptake. Under the current circumstances, researchers have made promising efforts to develop nanocarrier photosensitizers. Reasonably designed photosensitizer (PS) nanoparticles can be achieved through non-covalent (self-aggregation, interfacial deposition, interfacial polymerization or core-shell embedding and physical adsorption) or covalent (chemical immobilization or coupling) processes and accumulate in certain tumors through passive and/or active targeting. These PS loading methods provide chemical and physical stability to the PS payload. Among nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles have the advantages of high stability, adjustable size, optical properties, and easy surface functionalization, making them more biocompatible in biological applications. In this review, we summarize the current development and application status of photodynamic therapy for breast cancer, especially the latest developments in the application of metal nanocarriers in breast cancer PDT, and highlight some of the recent synergistic therapies, hopefully providing an accessible overview of the current knowledge that may act as a basis for new ideas or systematic evaluations of already promising results.

Photosensitizer IR700DX-6T- and IR700DX-mbc94-mediated photodynamic therapy markedly elicits anticancer immune responses during treatment of pancreatic cancer

Background/AimsIR700DX-6T and IR700DX-mbc94 are two chemically synthesized photosensitizers (PSs) that target the translocator protein (TSPO) and type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R), respectively, for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. Recently, we found that IR700DX-6T and IR700DX-mbc94 exhibited high selectivity and efficiency in PDT for breast cancer and malignant astrocytoma. Yet, the phototherapeutic effects of the PSs on pancreatic cancer and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study investigated the effect of IR700DX-6T- or IR700DX-mbc94-PDT on pancreatic cancer and whether the treatment involves eliciting anticancer immune responses in support of superior therapeutic efficacy. MethodsFour pancreatic cancer cell lines were used for in vitro studies. C57BL/6 mice bearing pancreatic cancer cell-derived xenografts were generated for in vivo studies regarding the therapeutic effects of IR700DX-6T-PDT and IR700DX-mbc94-PDT on pancreatic cancer. The immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive effects of IR700DX-6T-PDT and IR700DX-mbc94-PDT were examined by detecting CD8+ T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and dendritic cells (DCs) using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC). ResultsTSPO and CB2R were markedly upregulated in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. Both IR700DX-6T-PDT and IR700DX-mbc94-PDT significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Notably, assessment of anticancer immune responses revealed that both IR700DX-6T-PDT and IR700DX-mbc94-PDT significantly induced CD8+ T cells, promoted maturation of DCs, and suppressed Tregs, with stronger effects exerted by IR700DX-6T-PDT compared to IR700DX-mbc94-PDT. ConclusionsIR700DX-6T-PDT and IR700DX-mbc94-PDT involves eliciting anticancer immune responses. Our study has also implicated that PDT in combination with immunotherapy holds promise to improve therapeutic efficacy for patients with pancreatic cancer.