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Recovery of IR700 Fluorescence After Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy: Discovery and Mechanistic Insights
by
,
Hideki Tanaka
1
,
Shuhei Okuyama
2,
Ken Shirota
2,
Mayumi Sugahara
3,
Akiko Banba
2,
Akihiro Ishikawa
2,
Nobuhisa Minakata
4,
Hirobumi Fuchigami
3,
Masahiro Yasunaga
3 and
Tomonori Yano
4,* 
1
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
2
Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto 604-8511, Japan
3
Division of Developmental Therapeutics, Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
4
Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba 277-8577, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2026, 18(1), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18010162
Submission received: 12 December 2025
/
Revised: 27 December 2025
/
Accepted: 30 December 2025
/
Published: 2 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Therapy)
Simple Summary
This study investigates a novel phenomenon termed “early fluorescence recovery,” observed after near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) using IR700-conjugated antibodies. In mouse xenograft models treated with cetuximab-IR700, tumor fluorescence markedly decreased during NIR light irradiation but rapidly recovered within 10 min post-irradiation. This recovery was suppressed by L-sodium ascorbate, indicating the involvement of oxygen-dependent reactive processes, and it was accompanied by increased indocyanine green fluorescence, suggesting enhanced tumor perfusion. Therapeutically, divided irradiation administered after fluorescence recovery tended to achieve stronger tumor growth suppression than did single irradiation, although without statistical significance. These findings could demonstrate that early fluorescence recovery reflects transient reactivation of photoactive antibody–photoabsorber conjugates driven by molecular and vascular mechanisms; additionally, leveraging this brief recovery window may help optimize NIR-PIT treatment protocols.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a molecularly targeted cancer therapy that employs antibody–photoabsorber conjugates (APCs) comprising the photosensitizer IRDye700DX (IR700) and tumor-specific antibodies. Following near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, IR700 undergoes structural modification, inducing selective and rapid necrotic cell death. In mouse tumor models, we observed that IR700 fluorescence decreased during irradiation but recovered immediately afterward. This study aimed to characterize this novel phenomenon, named “early fluorescence recovery,” and explore its therapeutic implications. Methods: Cetuximab-IR700 (Cet-IR700) was synthesized and administered to A431 and FaDu-Luc2 xenograft female BALB/c-nu/nu mouse models. In vivo fluorescence imaging was conducted using LIGHTVISION during and after NIR irradiation (690 nm, 50 J/cm2). Reactive oxygen species involvement was examined via intraperitoneal administration of L-sodium ascorbate. Tumor blood flow changes were assessed via indocyanine green (ICG) imaging, and therapeutic efficacy was compared between single and divided irradiation protocols. Results: Tumor fluorescence markedly decreased during NIR-PIT but rapidly recovered within 10 min after irradiation. This recovery was significantly inhibited by L-sodium ascorbate (p < 0.01) and accompanied by increased ICG fluorescence (p < 0.01), suggesting enhanced tumor perfusion. Divided irradiation performed after fluorescence recovery tended to yield greater tumor suppression than did single irradiation, although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Early fluorescence recovery after NIR-PIT reflects transient reactivation of photoactive APCs through oxygen-dependent molecular and vascular mechanisms. Exploiting this brief recovery window with divided irradiation may improve therapeutic efficacy and guide optimization of NIR-PIT protocols.
