Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy with adjuvant ablative fractional laser displays increased tumour clearance of squamous cell carcinoma, a murine study

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PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors are used as systemic immunotherapy for locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); however, improved treatment efficacy is urgently needed. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of combining systemic anti-PD-1 treatment with adjuvant ablative fractional laser (AFL) in a spontaneous SCC mouse model. Tumours induced by ultraviolet radiation in the strain C3.Cg-Hrhr/TifBomTac were divided into four groups: anti-PD-1-antibody+AFL (n = 33), AFL alone (n = 22) anti-PD-1-antibody alone (n = 31) and untreated controls (n = 46). AFL was given at Day 0 (100 mJ/mb, 5% density), while anti-PD-1-antibody (ip, 200 μg) at Days 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8. Response to treatment was evaluated by tumour growth, survival time and by dividing response to treatment into complete responders (clinically cleared tumours), partial responders (reduced tumour growth rate compared to untreated controls) and non-responders (no decrease in tumour growth rate compared to untreated controls). The strongest tumour response was observed following the combination of systemic anti-PD-1 treatment combined with laser exposure, resulting in the highest percentage of complete responders (24%) compared with untreated controls (0%, p < 0.01), AFL monotherapy (13%, p > 0.05) and anti-PD-1-antibody monotherapy (3%, p > 0.05). Moreover, all three treatment interventions demonstrated significantly reduced tumour growth rates compared with untreated controls (p < 0.01), and the mice had significantly longer survival times (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the combination treatment revealed an improved treatment effect that significantly enhanced the complete tumour clearance not observed with the monotherapies, indicating a possible additive effect of anti-PD-1 with adjuvant AFL in treatment of SCC.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummere15013
TidsskriftExperimental Dermatology
Vol/bind33
Udgave nummer2
Antal sider9
ISSN0906-6705
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The study was supported by Fabrikant Vilhelm Pedersen og Hustrus Legat [Grant number 0052695], Leo Foundation [Grant number LF18045] and executed as a part of Skin Cancer INnovation Clinical Academic Group (SCIN‐CAG), Greater Copenhagen Health Science Partners (GCHSP).

Funding Information:
The authors would like to express their gratitude to Catrine Fischer Goldschmidt for her animal assistance during the study. The study was executed as a part of the Danish Research Center for Skin Cancer (www.researchcenterforskincancer.org), a public–private research partnership between the Private Hospital Molholm, Aalborg University Hospital and Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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