Phototherapeutic Induction of Immunogenic Cell Death and CD8+ T Cell-Granzyme B Mediated Cytolysis in Human Lung Cancer Cells and Organoids

Augmenting T cell mediated tumor killing via immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD) is the cornerstone of emerging immunotherapeutic approaches. We investigated the potential of methylene blue photodynamic therapy (MB-PDT) to induce ICD in human lung cancer. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and primary human lung cancer organoids were evaluated in co-culture killing assays with MB-PDT and light emitting diodes (LEDs). ICD was characterised using immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Phototherapy with MB treatment and low energy LEDs decreased the proliferation of NSCLC cell lines inducing early necrosis associated with reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl2 and increased expression of ICD markers, calreticulin (CRT), intercellular cell-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) in NSCLC cells. MB-PDT also potentiated CD8 + T cell-mediated cytolysis of lung cancer via granzyme B in lung cancer cells and primary human lung cancer organoids.