Endoscopic near infrared photoimmunotherapy using a fiber optic diffuser for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly selective tumor treatment that employs an antibody-photo-absorber conjugate (APC) which is activated by near infrared light. Here, we describe the efficacy of endoscopic NIR-PIT using the APC trastuzumab-IR700DX (tra-IR700) in the setting of human epidermal growth factor 2 positive (HER2+) gastric carcinoma with peritoneal disseminations. In this invivo study, fluorescence endoscopy showed high tumor accumulation of tra-IR700 within disseminated peritoneal implants. Mice with disseminated peritoneal gastric cancer were separated into 4 groups: (i) control (no treatment); (ii) tra-IR700 i.v. only; (iii) NIR light only; and (iv) endoscopic NIR-PIT. NIR light irradiation was carried out through a fiber optic diffuser under endoscopic guidance. Invivo bioluminescence images showed significantly greater therapeutic effect in the endoscopic NIR-PIT group than that in the control groups (P<.01 vs other control groups). Histological analysis showed diffuse cancer cell death in NIR-PIT-treated tumors. In conclusion, NIR-PIT with NIR light delivered via an endoscopic fiber optic diffuser is a promising method for the treatment of peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. Moreover, this technique could be readily used in other types of cancers with peritoneal dissemination provided that suitable antibodies could be found.