Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme

The Gliomas account for 81% of all malignant central nervous system tumors and are classified by WHO into four grades of malignancy. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common grade IV glioma, exhibits an extremely aggressive phenotype and a dismal five-year survival rate of only 6%, underscorin...

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Main Authors: Paweł Woźnicki, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher, Agnieszka Przygórzewska, David Aebisher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3091
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author Paweł Woźnicki
Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher
Agnieszka Przygórzewska
David Aebisher
author_facet Paweł Woźnicki
Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher
Agnieszka Przygórzewska
David Aebisher
author_sort Paweł Woźnicki
collection DOAJ
description The Gliomas account for 81% of all malignant central nervous system tumors and are classified by WHO into four grades of malignancy. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common grade IV glioma, exhibits an extremely aggressive phenotype and a dismal five-year survival rate of only 6%, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in particular has attracted attention for its dual cytotoxic and immunostimulatory effects. In GBM models, PDT induces immunogenic cell death characterized by the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which promote antigen presentation and activate T cell responses. Additionally, PDT transiently increases blood–brain barrier permeability, facilitating immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, and enhances clearance of waste products via stimulation of meningeal lymphatic vessels. Importantly, PDT can reprogram or inactivate immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages, thereby counteracting the pro-tumoral microenvironment. Despite these encouraging findings, further preclinical and clinical studies are required to elucidate PDT’s underlying immunological mechanisms fully and to optimize treatment regimens that maximize its efficacy as part of integrated immunotherapeutic strategies against GBM.
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spelling doaj-art-1f676ed3350a4aa786180ccd2f9f4f172025-08-20T03:04:43ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013015309110.3390/molecules30153091Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma MultiformePaweł Woźnicki0Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher1Agnieszka Przygórzewska2David Aebisher3Doctoral School, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, PolandDepartment of Biochemistry and General Chemistry, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, PolandEnglish Division Science Club, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, PolandDepartment of Photomedicine and Physical Chemistry, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, PolandThe Gliomas account for 81% of all malignant central nervous system tumors and are classified by WHO into four grades of malignancy. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common grade IV glioma, exhibits an extremely aggressive phenotype and a dismal five-year survival rate of only 6%, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in particular has attracted attention for its dual cytotoxic and immunostimulatory effects. In GBM models, PDT induces immunogenic cell death characterized by the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which promote antigen presentation and activate T cell responses. Additionally, PDT transiently increases blood–brain barrier permeability, facilitating immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, and enhances clearance of waste products via stimulation of meningeal lymphatic vessels. Importantly, PDT can reprogram or inactivate immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages, thereby counteracting the pro-tumoral microenvironment. Despite these encouraging findings, further preclinical and clinical studies are required to elucidate PDT’s underlying immunological mechanisms fully and to optimize treatment regimens that maximize its efficacy as part of integrated immunotherapeutic strategies against GBM.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3091glioblastoma multiformephotodynamic therapyimmunotherapy
spellingShingle Paweł Woźnicki
Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher
Agnieszka Przygórzewska
David Aebisher
Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Molecules
glioblastoma multiforme
photodynamic therapy
immunotherapy
title Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme
title_full Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme
title_fullStr Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme
title_full_unstemmed Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme
title_short Immunological Insights into Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme
title_sort immunological insights into photodynamic therapy of glioblastoma multiforme
topic glioblastoma multiforme
photodynamic therapy
immunotherapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3091
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AT dorotabartusikaebisher immunologicalinsightsintophotodynamictherapyofglioblastomamultiforme
AT agnieszkaprzygorzewska immunologicalinsightsintophotodynamictherapyofglioblastomamultiforme
AT davidaebisher immunologicalinsightsintophotodynamictherapyofglioblastomamultiforme