Transcriptomic analysis of mechanism of melanoma cell death induced by photothermal therapy

Abstract

Melanoma is a malignancy with poor prognosis. Its incidence rate has been on the rise and it poses high health and economic challenges to different populations. Photothermal therapy (PTT) served as an effective local therapy in treating various tumors, particularly cutaneous carcinoma like melanoma. To fully understand the mechanisms of tumor cell death induced by PTT, we investigated gene expression and immune cells compositions of B16‐F10 tumors after PTT treatment. A total of 256 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 215 being downregulated and 41 upregulated by PTT. Functional annotation showed that most DEGs involved in immune response and inflammatory response. Immune cells compositions inference revealed changes in many immune cells including regulatory T cells, M2 macrophage and B cells after PTT treatment. Our results help delineate the mechanism of cell death at the transcriptional level triggered by non‐invasive PTT treatment of melanoma without exogenous light absorbing agents.

Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapies: Synergy Opportunities for Nanomedicine

“…Another important biological aspect of PDT and PTT is their ability to elicit an immune response ,, by releasing tumor-specific antigens as well as by producing adjuvant-like molecules, CRT, HSPs, HMGB1 and ATP. , Large numbers of cells undergoing ICD trigger acute inflammation, caused by the release of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and CXCL2) and tumor immune-cell infiltration. This initial inflammation promotes the activation and recruitment of dendritic cells that, by processing and presenting tumor-associated antigens, activate the adaptive arm of the immune system.…”

Nanoparticles-based phototherapy systems for cancer treatment: Current status and clinical potential

“…Recently, the interest in PTT-based cancer cell death has been focused on the type of cell death, aiming to induce immunogenic cell death able to activate the immune system [ 29 ]. The analysis of the differences in the gene expressions before and after irradiation of melanoma cells have identified mainly changes in the genes associated with the immune response, further supporting the case of a milder treatment [ 30 ]. However, the thermal cell death promoted by PTT can also induce autophagy in the cancer cells, which require combination of PTT with anti-autophagy treatments to increase the efficacy of the therapy [ 31 ].…”

Biomedical Application of Porphyrin-Based Amphiphiles and Their Self-Assembled Nanomaterials

“…Given that both PDT and PTT can prompt an immune response by liberating tumor-specific antigens and generating adjuvant-like molecules such as calreticulin (CRT), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and heat-shock proteins (HSPs), consequently initiating immunogenic cell death (ICD), − the inherent potential of PBAs in IMT is manifest. Multifunctional nanoparticles with porphyrins and immune-stimulating agents can accomplish this in a practical and efficient manner. − For example, Li et al designed a coassembled nanofiber with indocyanine green (ICG) and immunomodulatory thymopentin (TP5), applying to pancreatic tumors with combinatorial NIR photothermal IMT .…”