Visudyne (verteporfin) / Novartis, Bausch Health - LARVOL DELTA

Cluster-Based Structural Phenotypes of Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy. (PubMed, Am J Ophthalmol) - "Chronic CSC has a two-dimensional structure. Unsupervised clustering recovered the photoreceptor threshold that governs visual recovery and resolved a second, choroidal dimension that staging cannot represent, separating eyes staging treats as equivalent by choroidal thickness and age. Visual prognosis follows the photoreceptor axis alone. The 520-µm threshold is calibrated to pachychoroid-confirmed disease."

Journal • Retinal Disorders

Monocyte-Mimetic Nanoparticle Delivery of Verteporfin Promotes Plaque-Stabilizing Remodeling in Atherosclerosis. (PubMed, bioRxiv) - "Importantly, repeated MoNP-VP administration was well tolerated and elicited no overt systemic toxicity. These findings bridge mechanistic insight and therapeutic efficacy in pre-established plaques by demonstrating that MoNP-VP remodels the inflammatory plaque microenvironment and promotes lesion stabilization, supporting its translational potential as a precision nanotherapy for atherosclerosis."

Journal • Atherosclerosis • Cardiovascular • Dyslipidemia • Fibrosis • APOE

Far-field bioluminescent immune cell-mediated photodynamic therapy is limited by photon flux. (PubMed, Photochem Photobiol) - "Using luciferase-engineered tumor-associated macrophages and verteporfin, we observed no detectable ROS generation or tumor cell cytotoxicity in vitro. Complementary Monte Carlo simulations incorporating tissue scattering and absorption show that achievable photon fluxes are several orders of magnitude below established thresholds for cytotoxic PDT. These findings quantitatively define the limits of far-field bioluminescence and highlight the need for near-field strategies for immune cell mediated PDT and PDP."

Journal • Oncology

LIPUS-mediated mechanotransduction activates the YAP/TAZ/SCX axis and enhances tenogenesis-associated responses in tendon stem cells. (PubMed, Biomed Rep) - "Passage-3 TSCs were assigned to the Control, LIPUS and LIPUS + Verteporfin (VP) groups...In conclusion, LIPUS enhances a tenogenesis-associated molecular phenotype in TSCs and promotes matrix-related gene expression, at least in part through mechanotransduction-dependent activation of YAP/TAZ signaling and upregulation of SCX. These findings provide mechanistic support for further investigation of LIPUS as a strategy for tendon regeneration."

Journal • Fibrosis • Immunology • CD34 • ENG • ITGAM • MCAM • PTPRC • TAFAZZIN • THY1 • YAP1

Carmofur inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via disrupting the YAP-1/TEAD pathway: in vitro and in silico approaches. (PubMed, 3 Biotech) - "Furthermore, validation was conducted by assessing the disruptive impact of Verteporfin on the YAP-1/TEAD heterodimer...Additionally, Carmofur diminished the relative YAP-1 levels from 9.72 to 2.98 in the Ovcar-3 cell line and exhibited an anti-metastatic effect by suppressing colony formation and migratory capabilities. This is the first study to provide in silico and in vitro evidence that Carmofur induces apoptosis by disrupting the YAP-1/TEAD heterodimer, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and migration of Ovcar-3 cells."

Journal • Preclinical • Oncology • Ovarian Cancer • Solid Tumor • YAP1

Low-Density Lipoprotein-Mimetic Nanoparticles Codelivering Self-Activated Cabazitaxel Prodrug and Verteporfin for Tumor Chemophotodynamic Therapy and Immune Activation. (PubMed, Mol Pharm) - "The combination treatment with CTX2TK&VP@LDL NPs and PD-L1 blockade notably inhibited abscopal tumor growth and lung metastasis. Taken together, the biomimetic CTX2TK&VP@LDL NPs exploit endogenous LDL functionality to enable receptor-mediated tumor targeting and synergistic chemophotodynamic immune activation, providing an effective and safe therapeutic strategy for TNBC."

Journal • Breast Cancer • Dyslipidemia • Oncology • Solid Tumor • Triple Negative Breast Cancer

YAP1 inhibition delays the progression of posterior capsular opacification through attenuation of lens epithelial-mesenchymal transition. (PubMed, Tissue Cell) - "HLE-B3 cells were exposed to transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2) and the YAP1 inhibitor verteporfin (VP) to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, and molecular expression using CCK-8, scratch assay, qPCR, and Western blot...In vivo, VP significantly delayed PCO progression in rabbits and decreased YAP1, α-SMA, and vimentin expression. These results suggest that YAP1 facilitates EMT in lens epithelial cells through the Hippo/YAP pathway, and its inhibition could be a promising strategy for PCO treatment."

Journal • Cataract • BIRC5 • CTGF • TEAD2 • TGFB1 • TGFB2 • VIM • YAP1

Ambient light drives verteporfin-induced protein cross-linking during standard laboratory sample processing. (PubMed, PLoS One) - "The results demonstrate that high-molecular-weight complex (HMWC) formation for p62, DIAP1, ROCK1, YAP, and phospho-YAP is driven principally by light exposure during sample processing rather than during cell treatment, occurs in cell-free lysates within 1 hour of ambient-light exposure, and is markedly attenuated by both N-acetylcysteine and L-histidine, consistent with contributions from both radical-mediated and singlet oxygen-mediated photochemistry. In a single-experiment CCK-8 assay, viability was markedly lower under light than in darkness at 24 hours, an observation consistent with the immunoblot findings but requiring independent replication. These findings support the light-artifact hypothesis and may have implications for how preclinical data on VP are interpreted in the design of clinical investigations."

Journal • TEAD1

RPE Tear and Chronic CSC-like Subretinal Fluid After Subthreshold Micropulse Laser for Serous PED. (PubMed, Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther) - "Subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) is a phototherapeutic alternative strategy for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and has been reported for selected serous pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs), especially when the verteporfin in photodynamic therapy (PDT) is unavailable...Staged SML and focal laser photocoagulation guided by sequential multimodal imaging completely resolved the refractory subretinal fluid, with stable visual function and no recurrence during long-term follow-up. This report highlights a potential safety risk of SML for serous PED, underscoring the value of multimodal imaging in guiding treatment with sequential SML or focal photocoagulation for chronic CSC-like fluid."

Journal • Retinal Disorders

Inhibition of YAP signaling suppresses fibrosis and posterior capsular opacification in preclinical models of cataract surgery. (PubMed, Cell Signal) - "The progression of EMT in LECs is driven by YAP activation, a process that occurs, to a certain extent, via the enhancement of CTGF expression. Targeting YAP signaling may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing EMT-driven PCO following cataract surgery."

Journal • Preclinical • Cataract • Fibrosis • Immunology • Ophthalmology • CTGF • FN1 • TGFB1 • YAP1

Reprogramming PD-L1 endosomal recycling and lysosomal degradation via engineered exosome-based nanocomposites overcomes immune resistance in lung cancer brain metastasis. (PubMed, Mater Today Bio) - "To overcome these barriers, we engineered a pH-responsive nanocomposite (VP-αPD-L1@REB) by functionalizing brain-metastatic tumor cell-derived exosomes (EB) with RGD peptides (REB) for targeted co-delivery of verteporfin (VP) and αPD-L1...Driven by the synergy of VP's robust intracellular clearance and αPD-L1's surface blockade, this targeted nanoplatform successfully remodels the intracranial immunosuppressive microenvironment and triggers potent systemic anti-tumor immunity. This study provides a highly promising translational paradigm for overcoming adaptive immune resistance in central nervous system (CNS) malignancies."

Journal • Brain Cancer • Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor • CMTM6 • PD-L1

PIEZO1 promotes YAP/TEAD-dependent profibrotic signaling in POSTN-enriched lung fibroblast activation. (PubMed, Biochem Biophys Res Commun) - "Verteporfin, used as a pharmacological inhibitor of Yap/TEAD-associated transcription, attenuated collagen deposition, hydroxyproline accumulation, profibrotic gene expression, and Yap target protein induction in vivo...Active YAP partially restored profibrotic gene expression after Piezo1 knockdown, supporting Yap/TEAD as an important downstream effector of Piezo1. Collectively, these findings identify an association between a POSTN-enriched fibrotic fibroblast state and enhanced PIEZO1-YAP/TEAD signaling, while functional experiments support a role for PIEZO1-YAP/TEAD in fibroblast activation and fibrotic lung remodeling."

Journal • Fibrosis • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis • Immunology • Pulmonary Disease • Respiratory Diseases • POSTN • TGFB1 • YAP1

GPR87 promotes DMBA/TPA-induced skin tumorigenesis through the YAP-SOX2 axis. (PubMed, Carcinogenesis) - "Importantly, activation of YAP by either YAP(S127A) expression or XMU-MP-1 treatment restored SOX2 expression in GPR87-depleted cells, whereas verteporfin-mediated inhibition of YAP-TEAD activity attenuated TPA-induced SOX2 upregulation. Together, these findings identify GPR87 as a key positive regulator of skin tumor initiation and progression and demonstrate that its tumor-promoting effects are mediated, at least in part, through the YAP-SOX2 axis. GPR87 may therefore represent a potential therapeutic target for cSCC."

Journal • Non-melanoma Skin Cancer • Oncology • Skin Cancer • Squamous Cell Carcinoma • Squamous Cell Skin Cancer • LATS1 • SOX2

Combination Treatment of Docetaxel Liposomes and Sonodynamic Therapy With Verteporfin Liposomes in Patients With Cancer: A Report of Three Cases. (PubMed, Case Rep Oncol Med) - "Furthermore, although conventional treatment options were considered unsuitable because of advanced age in the patient with gastric cancer, this intervention demonstrated a favorable safety profile and potential therapeutic benefit. To our knowledge, this study represents the first clinical report demonstrating the potential antitumor efficacy and safety of the combination of verteporfin liposomes, liposomal docetaxel, and SDT."

Journal • Breast Cancer • Gastric Cancer • Lung Cancer • Oncology • Ovarian Cancer • Solid Tumor

Imaging-guided COX-2 inhibition synergizes with photodynamic immunogenic cell death to potentiate checkpoint blockade in colon cancer. (PubMed, Int J Pharm ) - "The VC@HSA nanomedicine comprises verteporfin (VER), a photosensitizer that induces immunogenic cell death (ICD), and celecoxib (CXB), an inhibitor of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), co-encapsulated within human serum albumin (HSA). This coordinated immune activation effectively inhibits the growth of primary and distant colon tumors within a short-term in vivo treatment cycle. Collectively, our findings elucidate the mechanism underlying the co-administration of VER and CXB, demonstrate the advantages of albumin as a superior drug carrier, and establish the combination of VC@HSA with ICB as a promising therapeutic strategy for colon cancer."

Checkpoint inhibition • Journal • Colon Cancer • Colorectal Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor

TNF-α-responsive YAP1 promotes CCL20 expression in colorectal inflammation and cancer. (PubMed, Sci Rep) - "In vivo, verteporfin and/or infliximab ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by reduced colonic Yap1 and Ccl20 expression, lower serum CCL20, and diminished mucosal accumulation of CD3⁺ T cells, CD19⁺ B cells, CD11c⁺ dendritic cells, and FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells. Moreover, combined YAP pathway inhibition and CCL20 knockdown produced the most pronounced suppression of xenograft tumor growth. Together, these findings position CCL20 as a mechanistically defined downstream effector of YAP1 and suggest that a TNF-α-responsive YAP1-CCL20 program contributes to inflammatory chemokine remodeling in colitis and to malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells."

Journal • Colorectal Cancer • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Immunology • Inflammatory Bowel Disease • Oncology • Solid Tumor • Ulcerative Colitis • CCL20 • FOXP3 • ITGAX • TNFA • YAP1

Photodynamic priming enhances anti-PD1 therapy responses in patient-derived pancreatic cancer organoid immune cocultures. (PubMed, Front Immunol) - "PDOs were treated with Visudyne and red light (25, 75, and 100 J/cm²), followed by assessment of cytotoxicity, DAMP expression (HSP60, calreticulin, HMGB1), and transcriptomic changes...Pembrolizumab (anti-PD1) was added to PDO-mDC-T cell cocultures to evaluate combined effects on PDO viability and T cell activation...PDP was associated with modulation of the PDAC TME toward a more immunogenic phenotype by enhancing tumor immunogenicity, activating dendritic cells and T cells, and potentiating PD1 blockade. These findings provide mechanistic support for further preclinical and clinical evaluation of PDP combined with checkpoint inhibition in PDAC."

IO biomarker • Journal • Oncology • Pancreatic Cancer • Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma • Solid Tumor • CALR • CD40 • CD8 • CD86 • CXCL12 • FASLG • FOXP1 • GZMB • HMGB1 • HSPD1 • IFNG • IL2 • IL21 • PD-L1 • TGFB1 • TNFA

Light- and X-ray-Activated Liposomes for Controlled Gene Editing and Drug Delivery. (PubMed, J Vis Exp) - "Representative results demonstrate knockout of up to approximately 326 slow-muscle fibres per zebrafish embryo via light activation and significant tumour growth suppression via X-ray-triggered doxorubicin release.The clinical precedent for 689-690 nm verteporfin activation in the eye motivates evaluation of this platform for ophthalmic delivery, although retinal biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and large-animal safety remain to be established. These methods provide an experimental approach with translational potential for externally controlled therapeutic cargo release."

Journal • Oncology • Ophthalmology

YAP-TEAD-driven CPA4 promotes NF2-deficient meningioma growth. (PubMed, bioRxiv) - "CPA4 links NF2 loss to oncogenic YAP-TEAD transcription, sustains meningioma growth, and marks tumor sensitivity to pharmacologic TEAD inhibition. These findings establish CPA4 as a tumor-promoting effector and potential biomarker of an actionable pathway shared across NF2- deficient cancers."

Journal • Brain Cancer • Meningioma • Oncology • Solid Tumor • NF1 • NF2

Multi-Omics Identification of Vasculogenic Mimicry-Associated Molecular Subtypes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Prognostic Stratification and Therapeutic Response Prediction. (PubMed, Cancers (Basel)) - "In orthotopic HCC mouse models, YAP1 overexpression increased PAS+/CD34- VM-like structures, whereas verteporfin treatment reduced these structures. In two treatment-related cohorts, the Non-VM subtype showed higher response rates to sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) than the VM subtype... This study establishes a VM score-based molecular classification framework for HCC and identifies VM-subtype-associated prognostic, spatial, immune, metabolic, genomic, and therapeutic features. These findings provide a candidate framework for molecular risk stratification and subtype-guided therapeutic exploration in HCC."

Journal • Hepatocellular Cancer • Metabolic Disorders • Oncology • Solid Tumor • CD34 • HSPA9 • MAD2L1 • PROM1 • YAP1

Injectable Optoelectronic Probe With In Situ Photoactivation and ROS Monitoring for Oxygen-Dependent Metronomic Photodynamic Cancer Therapy. (PubMed, Small) - "We engineered light-activatable prodrug nanoparticles (PNPs) composed of verteporfin (VPF), a cathepsin B-cleavable peptide (FRRG), and doxorubicin (DOX). Periodic oxygen depletion and recovery at 0.1 Hz for 1.5 h significantly improved therapeutic efficacy (p = 0.0047) compared with continuous PDT. Collectively, oxygen-guided mPDT combined with light-activatable PNPs provides a minimally invasive strategy for synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy of deep tumors, with favorable systemic and local biocompatibility."

Journal • Colon Cancer • Colorectal Cancer • Oncology • CTSB

A Hierarchical Hydrogel Modulates Immune-Mechanical Microenvironments to Spatiotemporally Reprogram Fibroblasts for Scarless Diabetic Wound Healing. (PubMed, Adv Healthc Mater) - "Based on a hierarchical physical encapsulation architecture, CC-pMnO2-Vet@PNAA enabled the highly controllable, stage-specific release of polydopamine-modified MnO2 (pMnO2) and verteporfin nanoparticles (Vet NPs)...Subsequently, in the remodeling phase, localized near-infrared (NIR) irradiation triggered microgel contraction for the on-demand release of Vet NPs, suppressing YAP signaling in fibroblasts to rebalance the mechanical microenvironment. In vivo studies in diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats model demonstrated that CC-pMnO2-Vet@PNAA established a coordinated immune-mechanical microenvironment, achieving rapid and scar-free wound healing."

Journal • Fibrosis • Immunology

Harnessing Repurposed Drugs to Enhance Temozolomide Efficacy in Glioblastoma. (PubMed, Cancer Rep (Hoboken)) - "Repurposed drugs may provide useful candidates for improving TMZ-based therapy in GB. However, most evidence remains preclinical, and further studies are needed to clarify blood-brain barrier penetration, optimal dosing, toxicity, predictive biomarkers, and clinical efficacy. Well-designed prospective clinical trials are required before these combinations can be incorporated into routine GB treatment."

Journal • Review • Brain Cancer • Glioblastoma • Oncology • Solid Tumor • AMPK • EGFR • MGMT • STAT3

Ultrasound-Guided Targeted Combination Therapy Integrating VEGFR Degradation Independent of a Specific Receptor, Mitochondrial Damage, and Sonodynamic Immunomodulation. (PubMed, Small) - "To overcome these challenges, we designed a multifunctional peptide-sonosensitizer conjugate (PSC) by covalently linking a VEGFR-targeting peptide, a mitochondria-homing peptide, and the clinically approved sonosensitizer verteporfin (VPN) via a gelatinase-cleavable linker...Moreover, sonodynamic immune modulation further potentiates antitumor efficacy. This study establishes a spatiotemporally controllablestrategy that is independent of a specific receptor and couples anti-angiogenic pathway blockade with mitochondrial vulnerability to address resistance and enable precision, immune-synergistic therapy."

Journal • Immune Modulation • Immunology • Oncology • Solid Tumor • Targeted Protein Degradation

A carrier-within-a-carrier system with calcium nanoparticles encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin-polysaccharide hydrogel for verteporfin delivery and radiosensitization in orthotopic osteosarcoma. (PubMed, Biomaterials) - "These shifts effectively converted the immunologically "cold" tumor into a "hot" state responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. This carrier-within-a-carrier strategy provides a multifunctional platform that couples potent radiosensitization with immunomodulation, offering a promising approach to overcoming radioresistance and improving therapeutic outcomes in osteosarcoma."

Journal • Immunology • Oncology • Osteosarcoma • Sarcoma • Solid Tumor • CD8 • IFNG • IL18 • IL1B