Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immunophotothermal therapy (IPTT), combining immune checkpoint inhibitors and photothermal therapy, represents a promising synergistic anticancer strategy that enhances tumour-specific immunity alongside localised thermal ablation. AIM: This review aims to summarise and critically analyse recent advancements in the development of photothermal agents for IPTT and their synergistic applications with immune checkpoint inhibitors. METHODS: We focus specifically on the progress in innovative photothermal agent materials, the underlying mechanisms of immunophotothermal synergy, and the resulting antitumor efficacy evidenced by preclinical and clinical findings. CONCLUSIONS: Furthermore, the key challenges hindering clinical translation and potential future directions are discussed. This comprehensive analysis highlights the current state and prospects of IPTT as an effective multimodal cancer treatment paradigm.