TMTP1-modified polymeric micelles for the inhibition of ovarian cancer metastasis and recurrence through enhanced photothermal-immunotherapy

Metastasis and recurrence are the main causes of failure in the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC). Immunotherapy has brought new opportunities for cancer treatment, but the presence of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment limits its application in OC. Here, we prepared a kind of intelligent nanomicelles that could inhibit OC metastasis and recurrence by combining photothermal tumor ablation and immune remodeling. In this study, Indocyanine green (ICG), a photosensitizer and Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist, were encapsulated into the core of PEG-PLGA nanocarrier, and the surface was further modified with tumor-targeting peptide TMTP1. The formed TP1-IM nanomicelles with enhanced tumor accumulation could enable robust photothermal ablation of the primary tumor, and induce immunogenic cell death, release tumor-associated antigens, and damage-associated molecular patterns to form an endogenous <i>in situ</i> tumor vaccine by a single intravenous injection, which could effectively inhibit the growth of OC. Moreover, PTT with TP1-IM nanomicelles in combination with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint blockade could induce strong anti-tumor immune responses, relieve the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and thus effectively inhibit the metastasis of OC. In addition, the combination strategy could produce long-term immune memory effects in treated mice to prevent the recurrence of tumors. Our work provides a new and individualized strategy for the treatment of OC and is expected for clinical transformation in the future for most components are clinically approved.