Laser assisted immunotherapy (LIT) for chemotherapy-resistant neoplasms: recent case reports

T-cell stimulators such as anti-CTLA-4 antibodies enhance immunologic responses to chemotherapy-resistant solid tumors, such as melanoma, advanced breast cancer, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer. The efficacy of these new immunotherapy agents can in theory be enhanced substantially by therapies that stimulate new immunologic (T-cell) responses against the tumor. Laser immunotherapy (LIT) with imiquimod and InCVAX are techniques that produce useful responses in patients with advanced melanoma, the prototypical chemotherapy resistant solid tumor. The mechanism of action of these therapies is thought to be immunological, including the development of new T-cell responses. We have therefore been combining LIT using imiquimod and InCVAX treatment with the new T-cell stimulators (ipilimumab) in cases of stage IV melanoma. While still anecdotal, the use of novel combinations of immunologic therapies should provide much improved responses for chemotherapy-resistant solid tumors (such as melanoma) than was previously possible. Newer T-cell stimulating drugs such as the anti-PD-1 antibodies and anti-PD-L1 antibodies will make this general approach to treating chemoresistant advanced tumors even more effective in the future.