Visudyne (verteporfin)

To mitigate the off-target toxicity of verteporfin, a YAP1 inhibitor, we develop macrophage-membrane-camouflaged hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (M@O-VNPs) co-loaded with verteporfin and oxaliplatin...By inducing immunogenic cell death, M@O-VNPs remodel the tumor microenvironment and enhance ICB efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. The therapeutic potential of this strategy is supported by synergistic antitumor effects of M@O-VNPs combined with anti-PD-1 therapy in genetically engineered and syngeneic GC models.

To overcome this, we screened various metalloporphyrins and identified Cu-based verteporfin as an effective YAP inhibitor, so that a tumor-targeted nanosystem termed CuVP-F127-IKE-Mem is developed, which integrates the YAP inhibitor copper-verteporfin metalloporphyrin and the ferroptosis inducer imidazole ketone erastin (IKE) into cancer cell membrane-coated nanoparticles. In pancreatic cancer, CuVP-F127-IKE-Mem significantly enhances ferroptosis sensitivity, suppresses YAP/SLC7A11 signaling, and exhibits potent tumor growth inhibition in vivo. This YAP-targeted transcriptional regulation strategy establishes a new paradigm for overcoming ferroptosis resistance.

In this study, we designed and synthesized Photodegradation-Targeting Chimeras (PDTACs) by conjugating a clinically approved photosensitizer, verteporfin, to a PD-L1-targeted peptide...In mouse models with immune cold tumors, PPA-VPF elicited robust adaptive antitumor immunity and effectively inhibited the growth of both primary and distant tumors. This PD-L1-targeted PDTAC achieved immune checkpoint blockade and ICD induction in a single therapeutic mode using one molecular species, presenting a novel strategy for combinational immunotherapy, particularly in immune cold tumors.

YAP1 and tumor-like CAFs (tCAFs) play a pivotal role in driving desmoplasia in PDAC. YAP1 mediates the conversion of mCAFs to tCAFs and remodels the extracellular matrix (ECM), while high YAP1 activity in tCAFs regulates EMT induction to propel disease progression. Targeting the YAP1-tCAF axis can suppress desmoplasia and improve therapeutic outcomes. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) holds significant potential for non-invasive monitoring of stromal mechanics, offering a new perspective for stromal therapies in PDAC.

Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout and rescue experiments in EOC cell lines, we demonstrate that MED12 deficiency significantly enhances sensitivity to ferroptosis inducers (RSL3 and Erastin), as evidenced by reduced IC50 values...Pharmacological inhibition of YAP with verteporfin or siRNA-mediated TEAD1 knockdown reverses ferroptosis sensitivity in MED12-deficient cells, confirming pathway specificity. These findings establish MED12 as a modulator of the YAP-TEAD1-ferroptosis axis and suggest that targeting this pathway could overcome chemoresistance in MED12-deficient EOC. Our work provides a mechanistic foundation for exploiting ferroptosis induction as a therapeutic strategy in ovarian cancer.

Importantly, two clinical drugs, the RhoA inhibitor simvastatin and the YAP1/TEAD inhibitor verteporfin were determined to be the disruptors of this feed-forward signaling axis, inhibiting ICC tumor growth. These findings reveal the vital function of ANLN in ICC growth and provide promising treatment strategies for ICC.

The GDCA and DCA exert opposing effects on CCA progression through Hippo-YAP signaling. GDCA promotes tumor growth via YAP activation, while DCA inhibits these processes. YAP-targeted interventions demonstrate therapeutic potential, providing insights into new treatment strategies for CCA.

Our findings support the pathogenic role of the CHYMASE mutation in nsHGF, establish chymase deficiency and consequent YAP/TAZ activation as the underlying mechanism and propose verteporfin-loaded exosomes as a promising therapeutic strategy for nsHGF-associated gingival overgrowth.

This approach, using hyaluronic acid nanoparticle (HANP)-formulated verteporfin (HANP/VP), concurrently induced nuclear- and mitochondrial-DNA damage, promoted immunogenic cell death (ICD), and drove T-lymphocyte infiltration into the tumor microenvironment (TME)...Overall, our findings established HANP/VP as a multifunctional nanomedicine that reprogrammed the TME and elicited potent antitumor immunity through dual DNA damage and STING activation. The study highlights a promising translational strategy for overcoming immunotherapeutic resistance in UM and converting immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones, thereby improving responses to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).

FAM189A2 can be considered as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker associated with LUAD, and suppresses the proliferation and glycolytic metabolism of LUAD cells via WWP2-LATS1-YAP signaling, which will provide a corresponding theoretical foundation for the development of small molecule inhibitors.

Our results reveal the F-actin assembly is inhibited by silibinin, and this results in G2/M cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer cells, providing new ideas for anti-cancer therapies including TNBCs. Abbreviations: ABPs, actin binding proteins; ARP2, actin-related protein2; Capza1, capping actin protein of muscle Z-line subunit alpha 1; CDC2, Cell Division Cycle protein 2/CDK1, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1; CDKi, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors; CDKs, cyclin-dependent kinases; CETSA, cellular thermal shift assay; CFL1, cofilin 1; Cyto D, Cytochalasin D; DARTS, drug affinity responsive target stability; DIAPH3, diaphanous related formin 3; DMEM, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle medium; ER, estrogen receptor; F-actin, filamentous actin; FBS, fetal bovine serum; G-actin, globular actin; GSN, gelsolin; HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; LAMP1, lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; NLS, nuclear localization signal; PDB, protein data bank; PFN1, profilin 1; PR, progesterone receptor; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; RT, room temperature; Sili, silibinin; si-RNAs, small interfering RNAs; TNBC, triple-negative breast cancer; VP, verteporfin; YAP, Yes-associated protein.

The YAP inhibitor Verteporfin blunted MELK-driven PASMC proliferation and migration, underscoring the central role of YAP/TAZ signaling. Finally, in vivo pharmacological inhibition of MELK by OTS167 markedly reduced right ventricular systolic pressure, hypertrophy, and pulmonary vascular remodeling in Su/H mice, confirming the therapeutic relevance of MELK targeting in PAH. Collectively, these findings identify MELK as a novel regulator of PASMC pathobiology in PAH and suggest that it may represent a potential therapeutic target.