Combination of Bremachlorin PDT and immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-PD-1 shows response in murine immunological T-cell high and T-cell low PDAC models.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most challenging types of cancer with little or no response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to ablate tumors and induce an immune response. In our study, we investigated the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), using the photosensitizer Bremachlorin, in its ability to reduce tumor burden and to sensitize immunologically T-cell high and T-cell low murine PDAC tumors to the ICI that blocks programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint.

Monitoring Immune Cell Function Through Optical Imaging: a Review Highlighting Transgenic Mouse Models.

Transgenic mouse models have facilitated research of human diseases and validation of therapeutic approaches. Inclusion of optical reporter genes (fluorescent or bioluminescent genes) in the targeting vectors used to develop such models makes in vivo imaging of cellular and molecular events possible, from the microscale to the macroscale. In particular, transgenic mouse models expressing optical reporter genes allowed accurately distinguishing immune cell types from trafficking in vivo using intravital microscopy or whole-body optical imaging.

pH-Channeling in Cancer: How pH-Dependence of Cation Channels Shapes Cancer Pathophysiology.

Tissue acidosis plays a pivotal role in tumor progression: in particular, interstitial acidosis promotes tumor cell invasion, and is a major contributor to the dysregulation of tumor immunity and tumor stromal cells. The cell membrane and integral membrane proteins commonly act as important sensors and transducers of altered pH. Cell adhesion molecules and cation channels are prominent membrane proteins, the majority of which is regulated by protons.

Assessing the safety and efficacy of TAVR compared to SAVR in low-to-intermediate surgical risk patients with aortic valve stenosis: An overview of reviews.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was initially introduced to treat patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) at high-risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Today, there is ample evidence supporting TAVR in high-risk groups. However, in recent years TAVR has been extended to low-to intermediate risk groups and relevant clinical evidence is still emerging, leaving some uncertainties.