In addition to destroying tumor cells by ROS, PDT can even induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), which is accompanied by the generation and release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) including calreticulin (CRT), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which can be recognized by a variety of immune cells, and thus provoking the specific antitumor immune response 5, 6. The gene discussed is HMGB1; the disease is neoplasm.