Photobiomodulation Reduces Tumor Progression and Enhances the Metabolism of Cultured Cells
- Tumors treated with photobiomodulation contain mature blood vessels and fewer pro-angiogenic macrophages.
- Photobiomodulation-treated tumors are surrounded by lymphocytes and dendritic cells.
- Photobiomodulation promotes the secretion of type I interferons in vitro and in vivo.
Photobiomodulation is recommended for healing mucositis caused by oncological treatments, raising concerns about its safe use in cancer patients. Ottaviani et al. demonstrated that laser light inhibits tumor progression, induces tumor vessel normalization, and stimulates the immune system to produce type I interferons, showcasing its safety and expanding the potential for laser-based therapies in oncology.
Summary
Photobiomodulation emerges as a promising supportive treatment for oral mucositis caused by oncological therapies. However, its mechanisms of action in cancer patients remain unclear.
This study investigated the anti-cancer effects of three laser protocols, set to the most commonly used wavelengths, in B16F10 melanoma and oral carcinogenesis mouse models. While laser light increased the metabolism of cultured cells, the in vivo results revealed reduced tumor progression.
This remarkable and unexpected outcome was associated with the recruitment of immune cells, particularly T-lymphocytes and dendritic cells, which secreted type I interferons. Laser light also reduced the number of highly angiogenic macrophages within the tumor mass and promoted blood vessel normalization, an emerging strategy for controlling tumor progression.
Collectively, these findings establish photobiomodulation as a safe procedure for oncological patients and pave the way for innovative applications in cancer therapy.