A study published in Science Advances has for the first time scientifically demonstrated the potential of fluorescence-guided photoimmunotherapy enabled with Modulight’s laser platform and cloud technology. The study, a collaboration between the University of Maryland (UMD) and Modulight, confirms the benefits of targeted nanomedicine, Modulight’s medical laser system, and fluorescence-guided intervention in both achieving better treatment outcomes and predicting tumor response.
“We have already published over a hundred scientific articles on our website from world-leading research groups that have used Modulight products in their studies. This article continues the series of articles and demonstrates our long-standing commitment to research and development of new therapies and validates the value of our unique, patented technology. The article is a particular achievement for us, as it is published by Science Advances, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals, and is authored by people from both the UMD research team and Modulight. In addition, the ovarian cancer under study is a new area where more effective treatment is urgently needed,” says Seppo Orsila, CEO of Modulight.
A team of renowned scientists and healthcare experts, led by Professor Huang Chiao Huang, started working closely with Modulight more than three years ago. The research marks a major leap forward in the fight against cancer and shows the new possibilities offered by photoimmunotherapy in the treatment of patients and in the efficacy of treatment.
“Our robust collaboration with Modulight and surgeons has facilitated the implementation of a cohesive strategy aimed at seamlessly integrating our drug-device innovations to advance the field of cancer photoimmunotherapy. Through this synergistic academic-industry partnership, we are able to expedite the development of safer and more efficacious treatments for cancer patients.”, says Professor Huang Chiao Huang, University of Maryland.
The indication that was studied here was advanced ovarian cancer, which is a very deadly disease: the 5-year survival rate of around 30% or less has not changed significantly in the past 30 years. Many patients relapse due to residual lesions smaller than millimeter. These residual micrometastases are difficult to detect and often develop resistance to standard treatments. Hence, the combination of targeted therapy, imaging, and monitoring of treatment responses can in the future bring improvements in these challenges.
Modulight’s laser and cloud technology combined with UMD’s nanotechnology, was shown to improve the consistency of photoimmunotherapy responses. The research identified the time when the initiation of light activation is possible for achieving the best outcomes. Also, the amount of construct in tumors can have subject-to-subject variability. ML7710 monitored the photobleaching during photoimmunotherapy, so that the light dose can be adjusted accordingly in real-time to improve the consistency of treatment effects. As a result, the variation in treatment response was significantly reduced by approximately 22% and overall tumor control improved without side effects.
Link to article in Science Advances: “Fluorescence-guided photoimmunotherapy using targeted nanotechnology and ML7710 to manage peritoneal carcinomatosis”