Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugate
Background: Targeted therapy is a promising approach to improve the treatment of tumors, including ocular malignancies. Current therapies, such as radiotherapy and surgery, often lead to serious damage to vision or to loss of the eye. New approaches have examined nanoparticles for use as targeted de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Advances in Ophthalmology Practice and Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667376224000726 |
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| author | Sen Ma Ruben V. Huis In't Veld Elisabet de los Pinos Ferry A. Ossendorp Martine J. Jager |
| author_facet | Sen Ma Ruben V. Huis In't Veld Elisabet de los Pinos Ferry A. Ossendorp Martine J. Jager |
| author_sort | Sen Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Targeted therapy is a promising approach to improve the treatment of tumors, including ocular malignancies. Current therapies, such as radiotherapy and surgery, often lead to serious damage to vision or to loss of the eye. New approaches have examined nanoparticles for use as targeted delivery vehicles for drugs. A newly-developed virus-like drug conjugate is a promising nanoparticle with a defined target: the novel virus-like particle-photosensitizer conjugate Belzupacap sarotalocan (Bel-sar, previous name AU-011). Main text: In this review, we summarize the application of this novel light-activated virus-like particle conjugate in pre-clinical and clinical studies and discuss its potential to treat ocular malignancies, such as uveal melanoma and conjunctival melanoma. We furthermore discuss the combination with immunotherapy and its application on pigmented and non-pigmented tumors as well as its effect on macrophage polarization, which is important to achieve effective results in immunotherapy. Conclusions: Belzupacap sarotalocan (Bel-sar) is a promising targeted drug carrier that enhances tumor-specific delivery and minimizes off-target effects. Its photodynamic therapy effectively treats pigmented and non-pigmented tumors while inducing immunogenic cell death through DAMP exposure, triggering local and systemic immune responses. Combining Bel-sar PDT with immunotherapy improves efficacy in preclinical models, warranting further clinical investigation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-812f9ce64ddb4ebb8872036475d4bc8f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2667-3762 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Ophthalmology Practice and Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-812f9ce64ddb4ebb8872036475d4bc8f2025-08-20T02:45:27ZengElsevierAdvances in Ophthalmology Practice and Research2667-37622025-02-0151495710.1016/j.aopr.2024.12.001Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugateSen Ma0Ruben V. Huis In't Veld1Elisabet de los Pinos2Ferry A. Ossendorp3Martine J. Jager4Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), the NetherlandsAura Biosciences, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USADepartment of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), the NetherlandsDepartment of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Dept of Ophthalmology, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands.Background: Targeted therapy is a promising approach to improve the treatment of tumors, including ocular malignancies. Current therapies, such as radiotherapy and surgery, often lead to serious damage to vision or to loss of the eye. New approaches have examined nanoparticles for use as targeted delivery vehicles for drugs. A newly-developed virus-like drug conjugate is a promising nanoparticle with a defined target: the novel virus-like particle-photosensitizer conjugate Belzupacap sarotalocan (Bel-sar, previous name AU-011). Main text: In this review, we summarize the application of this novel light-activated virus-like particle conjugate in pre-clinical and clinical studies and discuss its potential to treat ocular malignancies, such as uveal melanoma and conjunctival melanoma. We furthermore discuss the combination with immunotherapy and its application on pigmented and non-pigmented tumors as well as its effect on macrophage polarization, which is important to achieve effective results in immunotherapy. Conclusions: Belzupacap sarotalocan (Bel-sar) is a promising targeted drug carrier that enhances tumor-specific delivery and minimizes off-target effects. Its photodynamic therapy effectively treats pigmented and non-pigmented tumors while inducing immunogenic cell death through DAMP exposure, triggering local and systemic immune responses. Combining Bel-sar PDT with immunotherapy improves efficacy in preclinical models, warranting further clinical investigation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667376224000726EyeOncologyMelanomaVirus-like particlesTargeted therapyPhotodynamic therapy |
| spellingShingle | Sen Ma Ruben V. Huis In't Veld Elisabet de los Pinos Ferry A. Ossendorp Martine J. Jager Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugate Advances in Ophthalmology Practice and Research Eye Oncology Melanoma Virus-like particles Targeted therapy Photodynamic therapy |
| title | Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugate |
| title_full | Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugate |
| title_fullStr | Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugate |
| title_short | Targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light-activated virus-like drug conjugate |
| title_sort | targeting ocular malignancies using a novel light activated virus like drug conjugate |
| topic | Eye Oncology Melanoma Virus-like particles Targeted therapy Photodynamic therapy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667376224000726 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT senma targetingocularmalignanciesusinganovellightactivatedviruslikedrugconjugate AT rubenvhuisintveld targetingocularmalignanciesusinganovellightactivatedviruslikedrugconjugate AT elisabetdelospinos targetingocularmalignanciesusinganovellightactivatedviruslikedrugconjugate AT ferryaossendorp targetingocularmalignanciesusinganovellightactivatedviruslikedrugconjugate AT martinejjager targetingocularmalignanciesusinganovellightactivatedviruslikedrugconjugate |