Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments

Abstract Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in cancer progression and response to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy targeting the immune system has emerged as a promising treatment modality, but challenges in understanding the TME limit its efficacy. Optical imaging strateg...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Um‐e‐Kalsoom, Shiqi Wang, Junle Qu, Liwei Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-10-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70155
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850271078241271808
author Um‐e‐Kalsoom
Shiqi Wang
Junle Qu
Liwei Liu
author_facet Um‐e‐Kalsoom
Shiqi Wang
Junle Qu
Liwei Liu
author_sort Um‐e‐Kalsoom
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in cancer progression and response to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy targeting the immune system has emerged as a promising treatment modality, but challenges in understanding the TME limit its efficacy. Optical imaging strategies offer noninvasive, real‐time insights into the interactions between immune cells and the TME. Objective This review assesses the progress of optical imaging technologies in monitoring immunotherapy within the TME and explores their potential applications in clinical trials and personalized cancer treatment. Methods This is a comprehensive literature review based on the advances in optical imaging modalities including fluorescence imaging (FLI), bioluminescence imaging (BLI), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). These modalities were analyzed for their capacity to provide high‐resolution, real‐time imaging of immune cell dynamics, tumor vasculature, and other critical components of the TME. Results Optical imaging techniques have shown significant potential in tracking immune cell infiltration, assessing immune checkpoint inhibitors, and visualizing drug delivery within the TME. Technologies like FLI and BLI are pivotal in tracking immune responses in preclinical models, while PAI provides functional imaging with deeper tissue penetration. The integration of these modalities with immunotherapy holds promise for improving treatment monitoring and outcomes. Conclusion Optical imaging is a powerful tool for understanding the complexities of the TME and optimizing immunotherapy. Further advancements in imaging technologies, combined with nanomaterial‐based approaches, could pave the way for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatment.
format Article
id doaj-art-79e63a74580e4df088d9d48958d8356d
institution OA Journals
issn 2045-7634
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Cancer Medicine
spelling doaj-art-79e63a74580e4df088d9d48958d8356d2025-08-20T01:52:21ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342024-10-011319n/an/a10.1002/cam4.70155Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironmentsUm‐e‐Kalsoom0Shiqi Wang1Junle Qu2Liwei Liu3Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Guangdong Province and Ministry of Education, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen ChinaKey Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Guangdong Province and Ministry of Education, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen ChinaKey Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Guangdong Province and Ministry of Education, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen ChinaKey Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Guangdong Province and Ministry of Education, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen ChinaAbstract Background The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in cancer progression and response to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy targeting the immune system has emerged as a promising treatment modality, but challenges in understanding the TME limit its efficacy. Optical imaging strategies offer noninvasive, real‐time insights into the interactions between immune cells and the TME. Objective This review assesses the progress of optical imaging technologies in monitoring immunotherapy within the TME and explores their potential applications in clinical trials and personalized cancer treatment. Methods This is a comprehensive literature review based on the advances in optical imaging modalities including fluorescence imaging (FLI), bioluminescence imaging (BLI), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). These modalities were analyzed for their capacity to provide high‐resolution, real‐time imaging of immune cell dynamics, tumor vasculature, and other critical components of the TME. Results Optical imaging techniques have shown significant potential in tracking immune cell infiltration, assessing immune checkpoint inhibitors, and visualizing drug delivery within the TME. Technologies like FLI and BLI are pivotal in tracking immune responses in preclinical models, while PAI provides functional imaging with deeper tissue penetration. The integration of these modalities with immunotherapy holds promise for improving treatment monitoring and outcomes. Conclusion Optical imaging is a powerful tool for understanding the complexities of the TME and optimizing immunotherapy. Further advancements in imaging technologies, combined with nanomaterial‐based approaches, could pave the way for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatment.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70155immune checkpointimmunosuppressionimmunotherapyoptical imagingtumor microenvironment
spellingShingle Um‐e‐Kalsoom
Shiqi Wang
Junle Qu
Liwei Liu
Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments
Cancer Medicine
immune checkpoint
immunosuppression
immunotherapy
optical imaging
tumor microenvironment
title Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments
title_full Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments
title_fullStr Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments
title_full_unstemmed Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments
title_short Innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments
title_sort innovative optical imaging strategies for monitoring immunotherapy in the tumor microenvironments
topic immune checkpoint
immunosuppression
immunotherapy
optical imaging
tumor microenvironment
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70155
work_keys_str_mv AT umekalsoom innovativeopticalimagingstrategiesformonitoringimmunotherapyinthetumormicroenvironments
AT shiqiwang innovativeopticalimagingstrategiesformonitoringimmunotherapyinthetumormicroenvironments
AT junlequ innovativeopticalimagingstrategiesformonitoringimmunotherapyinthetumormicroenvironments
AT liweiliu innovativeopticalimagingstrategiesformonitoringimmunotherapyinthetumormicroenvironments