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. 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. 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.