Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40118497›Full record

ArticleJournal for immunotherapy of cancer2025

Thermoresistant flagellin-adjuvanted cancer vaccine combined with photothermal therapy synergizes with anti-PD-1 treatment.

Jayalakshmi Thiruppathi, Veena Vijayan, Hye Suk Hwang, Yong Jun Bang, Vandara Loeurng, Seol Hee Hong, Aravindkumar Sundaram, In-Kyu Park, Shee Eun Lee, Joon Haeng Rhee

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal for immunotherapy of cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jayalakshmi ThiruppathiChonnam National University, Hwasun, Korea (the Republic of).
Veena VijayanChonnam National University, Hwasun, Korea (the Republic of).
Hye Suk HwangChonnam National University, Hwasun, Korea (the Republic of).
Yong Jun BangChonnam National University, Hwasun, Korea (the Republic of).
Vandara LoeurngChonnam National University, Hwasun, Korea (the Republic of).
Seol Hee HongChonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea (the Republic of).
Aravindkumar SundaramChonnam National University, Hwasun, Korea (the Republic of).
In-Kyu ParkChonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea (the Republic of) jhrhee@jnu.ac.kr selee@chonnam.ac.kr pik96@jnu.ac.kr.
Shee Eun LeeChonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea (the Republic of) jhrhee@jnu.ac.kr selee@chonnam.ac.kr pik96@jnu.ac.kr.
Joon Haeng RheeChonnam National University, Hwasun, Korea (the Republic of) jhrhee@jnu.ac.kr selee@chonnam.ac.kr pik96@jnu.ac.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4018-3203

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer immunotherapy, leveraging the immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, has transformed cancer treatment paradigms. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used in a wide array of cancers, but only a limited fraction of patients are responding. Cancer vaccines could elicit antigen-specific immune responses and establish long-term immune memory, preventing recurrence and metastasis. Despite their promising profiles, ICIs and cancer vaccines by themselves are often insufficient to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and recurrence/metastasis. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving cancer immunotherapy outcomes.

methodsThe targeted liposomal formulation (TLIF), displaying Cyclic RGD (cRGD) peptide on the surface and encapsulating ICG and thermoresistant flagellin (FlaB) inside, was used for photothermal therapy (PTT), which was designed to induce robust immunogenic cell death (ICD) and release tumor antigens (TAs). We employed a mouse breast cancer model amenable to PTT. Utilizing a bilateral DD-Her2/neu tumor implantation model, we evaluated local and abscopal effects of combinatorial approaches employing PTT, FlaB-adjuvanted peptide vaccine (FlaB-Vax), and anti-PD-1 treatment. FlaB-Vax was designed to trigger tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-specific immune responses, which will trigger specific anti-tumor immunity. TLIF-PTT aimed to reduce tumor burden and induce ICD-mediated TA liberation for epitope spreading. Sustained anti-tumor immune memory was assessed by orthotopic rechallenging cured mice with the DD-Her2/neu tumor cells.

resultsThe combination of TLIF-PTT and FlaB-Vax provided significantly enhanced primary tumor suppression, with strong abscopal effects and long-lasting immune memory. The addition of anti-PD-1 therapy further improved long-term relapse-free survival, highlighting the potential of this combinatorial approach to induce durable antitumor immunity and sustainably prevent cancer recurrence and metastasis.

conclusionThis study demonstrates that the combination of TLIF-PTT and FlaB-Vax synergistically induced synergistic anti-tumor immune responses, which were efficaciously potentiated by anti-PD-1 treatment for recurrence-free long-term survival.

Indexed as

Cancer VaccinesFlagellinImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsImmunotherapyPhotothermal TherapyProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorAdjuvants, ImmunologicAnimalsCell Line, TumorCombined Modality TherapyFemaleHumansMiceAdjuvants, ImmunologicCancer VaccinesFlagellinImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorAbscopalAdjuvantBreast CancerImmune Checkpoint InhibitorVaccine

Identifiers

PMID40118497
PMCPMC11931959

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.