Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy for recurrent cancer at the base of the tongue

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a novel therapeutic approach that targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In NIR-PIT, administration of cetuximab sarotalocan sodium is followed by laser irradiation of the affected area, which theoretically should induce tumor cell death. Howev...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Takuma Makino, Asami Nishikori, Yasuharu Sato, Yuto Naoi, Junya Matsumoto, Shohei Fujimoto, Mizuo Ando
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572100025002510
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a novel therapeutic approach that targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In NIR-PIT, administration of cetuximab sarotalocan sodium is followed by laser irradiation of the affected area, which theoretically should induce tumor cell death. However, residual tumors are occasionally observed. This study investigated factors that influence the therapeutic efficacy of NIR-PIT in cases of recurrence of cancer at the base of the tongue. Six patients undergoing 11 treatment cycles were analyzed, focusing on the puncture interval of cylindrical diffusers and the expression of EGFR in tumors. The results demonstrated that a puncture interval of ≤12 mm significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy, with one case achieving complete response. EGFR expression was positive in all cases and expression score showed no significant change between before and after treatment. These findings suggest that puncture interval plays a critical role in therapeutic outcomes, whereas EGFR expression may not directly influence treatment efficacy.
ISSN:1572-1000