FAP-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Ferritin Nanoparticles Elicits an Immune Response against Cancer Cells and Cancer Associated Fibroblasts

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are present in many types of tumors and play a pivotal role in tumor progression and immunosuppression. Fibroblast-activation protein (FAP), which is overexpressed on CAFs, has been indicated as a universal tumor target. However, FAP expression is not restricted to tumors, and systemic treatment against FAP often causes severe side effects. To solve this problem, a photodynamic therapy (PDT) approach is developed based on ZnF16Pc-loaded and FAP-specific single chain variable fragment (scFv)-conjugated apoferritin nanoparticles, or alpha FAP-Z@FRT. alpha FAP-Z@FRT PDT efficiently eradicates CAFs in tumors without inducing systemic toxicity. When tested in murine 4T1 models, the treatment elicits anti-cancer immunity, causing suppression of both primary and distant tumors, that is, the abscopal effect. Treatment efficacy is enhanced when alpha FAP-Z@FRT PDT is used in combination with anti-PD1 antibodies. Interestingly, it is found that the PDT treatment not only elicits a cellular immunity against cancer cells, but also stimulates an anti-CAFs immunity. This is supported by an adoptive cell transfer study, where T cells taken from 4T1-tumor-bearing animals treated with alpha FAP PDT retard the growth of A549 tumors established on nude mice. Overall, this approach is unique for permitting site-specific eradication of CAFs and inducing a broad spectrum anti-cancer immunity.

Automated summary

This study developed a photodynamic therapy approach using nanoparticles specifically targeting FAP, which efficiently eradicated CAFs in tumors and induced anti-cancer immunity in murine models. Interestingly, the treatment not only elicited cellular immunity against cancer cells, but also stimulated an anti-CAFs immunity, as supported by adoptive cell transfer study.