Application and Progress of Photodynamic Therapy Combined with Antivascular Therapy in Tumor Therapy
Description
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel method for tumor ablation that offers the advantages of being noninvasive, reproducible, and highly selective, with few side effects. Accordingly, it is widely used to effectively treat various solid tumors. However, despite its practicality and efficacy, the oxidative stress induced by PDT can trigger angiogenesis, which may promote tumor metastasis or recurrence. Tumor cells produce activators of various angiogenic factors after PDT, thereby reducing PDT efficacy by inducing angiogenesis and tumor revascularization. Consequently, researchers have investigated the effects of combining PDT with molecularly targeted drugs. Clinical studies have shown that inhibiting angiogenesis after PDT is a valuable cancer treatment strategy. This combined approach can enhance apoptosis, reduce tumor load, prolong survival, decrease recurrence rates, and significantly improve PDT efficacy. To fully realize the potential of this combination therapy, nanotechnology has been increasingly employed in recent years to achieve efficient drug delivery and regulation of the vascular microenvironment, thereby addressing the issues of drug resistance and targeting. This review summarizes the principles and mechanisms of PDT and anti-angiogenic therapy, highlights effective therapeutic strategies that combine angiogenesis inhibitors with PDT for tumor treatment, and discusses the current challenges and future opportunities.