Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Jun 28.
Published in final edited form as: Cancer Immunol Res. 2019 Jan 25;7(3):401–413. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-18-0546

Figure 7. Proposed mechanism of combination treatment with local NIR-PIT and systemic PD-1 mAb.

Figure 7.

Following NIR-PIT cellular damage, tumor cells undergo immunogenic cell death (ICD) with release of innate immune ligands, such as calreticulin (CRT), ATP, and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), along with multiple tumor antigens. Following processing and presentation of these antigens by matured antigen-presenting cells such as DCs, a systemic polyclonal T-cell response develops. However, PD-1 expression on activated T-cells and PD-L1 expression within the tumor microenvironment leads to adaptive immune resistance and dysfunctional T-cells. PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade reverses this adaptive immune resistance, resulting in activation of TILs specific for multiple tumor antigens at both primary and distant (abscopal) sites of disease, complete tumor rejection, and immunologic memory.