Abstract
Photoimmunotherapy（PIT） is a novel therapeutic strategy that combines targeted delivery of an antibody-photosensitizer conjugate with localized light illumination to selectively kill cancer cells. The first approved drug for this therapy is AkaluxⓇ（development code：RM-1929/ASP-1929）, which targets epidermal growth factor receptor and is used in combination with the BioBladeⓇ laser system. This combination was approved in Japan in 2020—the first such approval in the world—for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer. The treatment, commonly referred to as Alluminox treatment for Head and Neck cancer, has since been adopted in clinical practice, primarily in departments of head and neck surgery and also in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Real-world data have shown favorable outcomes in terms of tumor control, safety, and quality of life preservation. In addition to expanding the application of ASP-1929 to other cancer types, efforts are ongoing to develop novel antibody-photosensitizer conjugates targeting the tumor immune microenvironment. These advances are expected to further broaden the clinical utility and impact of PIT in oncology.
