Preliminary safety and efficacy results of laser immunotherapy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients

Abstract

We report our preliminary results of a pilot clinical trial of late-stage breast cancer patients treated by laser immunotherapy (LIT), a local intervention using an 805 nm laser for non-invasive irradiation, indocyanine green for selective thermal effect, and immunoadjuvant (glycated chitosan) for immunological stimulation. Ten breast cancer patients were enrolled in this study; all patients were considered to be out of other available treatment options. Toxicity was individually evaluated through physical exams and laboratory tests. Adverse reactions only occurred in the area of treatment due to photothermal injury and local administration of immunoadjuvant. No grade 3 or 4 side effects were observed. Treatment efficacy of LIT was also evaluated by physical examination and tomography. In 8 patients available for evaluation, the objective response rate was 62.5% and the clinical beneficial response rate was 75%. While the study is still ongoing, the initial outcomes of this clinical trial show that LIT is well tolerated and is promising in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Fig. 1

Laser irradiation for the treatment of a breast cancer patient.

Fig. 2. Treatment cycle of laser immunotherapy for breast cancer patients

Laser irradiation, ICG and GC injection were performed every 4 weeks.

Fig. 3

Photos of breast lesions of 47-year-old female patient with stage IV breast cancer treated by Laser immunotherapy (LIT).

Fig. 4. Evaluation of clinical response of breast cancer patients to laser immunotherapy

Abbreviations: CR, complete response; PR, partial response; SD, Stable disease; PD, Progressive disease.

Fig. 5. CT scans of pulmonary metastatic nodule in the left lung of 47-year-old female patient with stage IV breast cancer treated by laser immunotherapy (LIT)

(A) CT scans of the patient taken before the first LIT treatment. A small metastatic nodule was located in the left lung of the patient (indicated in arrow). (B) CT scans taken 1 week after the first LIT treatment. (C) CT scans taken 2.5 months after the first LIT treatment. (D) CT scans taken 12 months after the first LIT treatment.