https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02326-7
Regular Article
Non-invasive phototherapy of glioblastoma in rats
1
Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str., 83, 410012, Saratov, Russia
2
Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Saratov Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBPPM RAS), Prospekt Entuziastov 13, 410049, Saratov, Russia
3
Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
4
Medical Physics Research Center, Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
5
Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
6
Saratov State Medical University, B. Kazachaya Str., 112, 410012, Saratov, Russia
a
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Received:
23
January
2026
Accepted:
15
April
2026
Published online:
23
April
2026
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the pathomorphosis of transplanted C6 glioma (glioblastoma, GB) in rats following non-invasive laser therapy (LT) with a 1267 nm wavelength. Experiments were conducted on 40 Wistar rats with implanted C6 glioblastoma. One week post-transplantation, animals in the treatment group received daily LT sessions for 3 weeks. Each session consisted of 51 min of exposure (three cycles of 17 min irradiation with 5-min breaks) at a dose of 12.6 kJ/cm2. Control groups included tumor-free animals and tumor-bearing animals without LT. Immunohistochemical markers for apoptosis (p53, Bax, Fas-receptor), proliferation (Ki-67), and autophagolysosome formation (LC3b, clathrin, caveolin) were analyzed. Statistical assessment included the Shapiro–Wilk normality test and Welch's t-test. Results demonstrated that survival in the GB + LT group was 1.8 times higher than in the untreated GB group (64% vs. 34%) following the 12.6 kJ/cm2 LT course. LT significantly reduced tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67), activated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway (Bax and p53), and inhibited autophagolysosome formation (LC3b, clathrin, caveolin). In conclusion, 1267 nm laser irradiation induces pronounced pathomorphosis in transplanted C6 glioma, slows its growth, and increases animal survival from 34 to 64%. These findings suggest that 1267 nm laser therapy represents a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach for glioblastoma treatment. Additionally, LT restored the function of the meningeal lymphatic system, enhancing brain clearance. These findings suggest that 1267 nm laser therapy represents a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach for glioblastoma treatment.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
