diff --git a/monai/apps/nnunet/nnunet_bundle.py b/monai/apps/nnunet/nnunet_bundle.py
index e358cd4b99..df8f09bf4b 100644
--- a/monai/apps/nnunet/nnunet_bundle.py
+++ b/monai/apps/nnunet/nnunet_bundle.py
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ def get_nnunet_trainer(
         cudnn.benchmark = True
 
     if pretrained_model is not None:
-        state_dict = torch.load(pretrained_model)
+        state_dict = torch.load(pretrained_model, weights_only=True)
         if "network_weights" in state_dict:
             nnunet_trainer.network._orig_mod.load_state_dict(state_dict["network_weights"])
     return nnunet_trainer
@@ -182,7 +182,9 @@ def __init__(self, predictor: object, model_folder: Union[str, Path], model_name
         parameters = []
 
         checkpoint = torch.load(
-            join(Path(model_training_output_dir).parent, "nnunet_checkpoint.pth"), map_location=torch.device("cpu")
+            join(Path(model_training_output_dir).parent, "nnunet_checkpoint.pth"),
+            map_location=torch.device("cpu"),
+            weights_only=True,
         )
         trainer_name = checkpoint["trainer_name"]
         configuration_name = checkpoint["init_args"]["configuration"]
@@ -192,7 +194,9 @@ def __init__(self, predictor: object, model_folder: Union[str, Path], model_name
             else None
         )
         if Path(model_training_output_dir).joinpath(model_name).is_file():
-            monai_checkpoint = torch.load(join(model_training_output_dir, model_name), map_location=torch.device("cpu"))
+            monai_checkpoint = torch.load(
+                join(model_training_output_dir, model_name), map_location=torch.device("cpu"), weights_only=True
+            )
             if "network_weights" in monai_checkpoint.keys():
                 parameters.append(monai_checkpoint["network_weights"])
             else:
@@ -383,8 +387,12 @@ def convert_nnunet_to_monai_bundle(nnunet_config: dict, bundle_root_folder: str,
         dataset_name, f"{nnunet_trainer}__{nnunet_plans}__{nnunet_configuration}"
     )
 
-    nnunet_checkpoint_final = torch.load(Path(nnunet_model_folder).joinpath(f"fold_{fold}", "checkpoint_final.pth"))
-    nnunet_checkpoint_best = torch.load(Path(nnunet_model_folder).joinpath(f"fold_{fold}", "checkpoint_best.pth"))
+    nnunet_checkpoint_final = torch.load(
+        Path(nnunet_model_folder).joinpath(f"fold_{fold}", "checkpoint_final.pth"), weights_only=True
+    )
+    nnunet_checkpoint_best = torch.load(
+        Path(nnunet_model_folder).joinpath(f"fold_{fold}", "checkpoint_best.pth"), weights_only=True
+    )
 
     nnunet_checkpoint = {}
     nnunet_checkpoint["inference_allowed_mirroring_axes"] = nnunet_checkpoint_final["inference_allowed_mirroring_axes"]
@@ -470,7 +478,7 @@ def get_network_from_nnunet_plans(
     if model_ckpt is None:
         return network
     else:
-        state_dict = torch.load(model_ckpt)
+        state_dict = torch.load(model_ckpt, weights_only=True)
         network.load_state_dict(state_dict[model_key_in_ckpt])
         return network
 
@@ -534,7 +542,7 @@ def subfiles(
 
     Path(nnunet_model_folder).joinpath(f"fold_{fold}").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
-    nnunet_checkpoint: dict = torch.load(f"{bundle_root_folder}/models/nnunet_checkpoint.pth")
+    nnunet_checkpoint: dict = torch.load(f"{bundle_root_folder}/models/nnunet_checkpoint.pth", weights_only=True)
     latest_checkpoints: list[str] = subfiles(
         Path(bundle_root_folder).joinpath("models", f"fold_{fold}"), prefix="checkpoint_epoch", sort=True
     )
@@ -545,7 +553,7 @@ def subfiles(
     epochs.sort()
     final_epoch: int = epochs[-1]
     monai_last_checkpoint: dict = torch.load(
-        f"{bundle_root_folder}/models/fold_{fold}/checkpoint_epoch={final_epoch}.pt"
+        f"{bundle_root_folder}/models/fold_{fold}/checkpoint_epoch={final_epoch}.pt", weights_only=True
     )
 
     best_checkpoints: list[str] = subfiles(
@@ -558,7 +566,7 @@ def subfiles(
     key_metrics.sort()
     best_key_metric: str = key_metrics[-1]
     monai_best_checkpoint: dict = torch.load(
-        f"{bundle_root_folder}/models/fold_{fold}/checkpoint_key_metric={best_key_metric}.pt"
+        f"{bundle_root_folder}/models/fold_{fold}/checkpoint_key_metric={best_key_metric}.pt", weights_only=True
     )
 
     nnunet_checkpoint["optimizer_state"] = monai_last_checkpoint["optimizer_state"]
diff --git a/monai/data/__init__.py b/monai/data/__init__.py
index 340c5eb8fa..5e367cc297 100644
--- a/monai/data/__init__.py
+++ b/monai/data/__init__.py
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@
 from .thread_buffer import ThreadBuffer, ThreadDataLoader
 from .torchscript_utils import load_net_with_metadata, save_net_with_metadata
 from .utils import (
-    PICKLE_KEY_SUFFIX,
     affine_to_spacing,
     compute_importance_map,
     compute_shape_offset,
diff --git a/monai/data/dataset.py b/monai/data/dataset.py
index e5842bfa7a..d63ff32293 100644
--- a/monai/data/dataset.py
+++ b/monai/data/dataset.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 
 import collections.abc
 import math
-import pickle
 import shutil
 import sys
 import tempfile
@@ -22,9 +21,11 @@
 import warnings
 from collections.abc import Callable, Sequence
 from copy import copy, deepcopy
+from io import BytesIO
 from multiprocessing.managers import ListProxy
 from multiprocessing.pool import ThreadPool
 from pathlib import Path
+from pickle import UnpicklingError
 from typing import IO, TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -207,6 +208,11 @@ class PersistentDataset(Dataset):
         not guaranteed, so caution should be used when modifying transforms to avoid unexpected
         errors. If in doubt, it is advisable to clear the cache directory.
 
+        Cached data is expected to be tensors, primitives, or dictionaries keying to these values. Numpy arrays will
+        be converted to tensors, however any other object type returned by transforms will not be loadable since
+        `torch.load` will be used with `weights_only=True` to prevent loading of potentially malicious objects.
+        Legacy cache files may not be loadable and may need to be recomputed.
+
     Lazy Resampling:
         If you make use of the lazy resampling feature of `monai.transforms.Compose`, please refer to
         its documentation to familiarize yourself with the interaction between `PersistentDataset` and
@@ -248,8 +254,8 @@ def __init__(
                 this arg is used by `torch.save`, for more details, please check:
                 https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/generated/torch.save.html#torch.save,
                 and ``monai.data.utils.SUPPORTED_PICKLE_MOD``.
-            pickle_protocol: can be specified to override the default protocol, default to `2`.
-                this arg is used by `torch.save`, for more details, please check:
+            pickle_protocol: specifies pickle protocol when saving, with `torch.save`.
+                Defaults to torch.serialization.DEFAULT_PROTOCOL. For more details, please check:
                 https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/generated/torch.save.html#torch.save.
             hash_transform: a callable to compute hash from the transform information when caching.
                 This may reduce errors due to transforms changing during experiments. Default to None (no hash).
@@ -371,12 +377,12 @@ def _cachecheck(self, item_transformed):
 
         if hashfile is not None and hashfile.is_file():  # cache hit
             try:
-                return torch.load(hashfile, weights_only=False)
+                return torch.load(hashfile, weights_only=True)
             except PermissionError as e:
                 if sys.platform != "win32":
                     raise e
-            except RuntimeError as e:
-                if "Invalid magic number; corrupt file" in str(e):
+            except (UnpicklingError, RuntimeError) as e:  # corrupt or unloadable cached files are recomputed
+                if "Invalid magic number; corrupt file" in str(e) or isinstance(e, UnpicklingError):
                     warnings.warn(f"Corrupt cache file detected: {hashfile}. Deleting and recomputing.")
                     hashfile.unlink()
                 else:
@@ -392,7 +398,7 @@ def _cachecheck(self, item_transformed):
             with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdirname:
                 temp_hash_file = Path(tmpdirname) / hashfile.name
                 torch.save(
-                    obj=_item_transformed,
+                    obj=convert_to_tensor(_item_transformed, convert_numeric=False),
                     f=temp_hash_file,
                     pickle_module=look_up_option(self.pickle_module, SUPPORTED_PICKLE_MOD),
                     pickle_protocol=self.pickle_protocol,
@@ -455,8 +461,8 @@ def __init__(
                 this arg is used by `torch.save`, for more details, please check:
                 https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/generated/torch.save.html#torch.save,
                 and ``monai.data.utils.SUPPORTED_PICKLE_MOD``.
-            pickle_protocol: can be specified to override the default protocol, default to `2`.
-                this arg is used by `torch.save`, for more details, please check:
+            pickle_protocol: specifies pickle protocol when saving, with `torch.save`.
+                Defaults to torch.serialization.DEFAULT_PROTOCOL. For more details, please check:
                 https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/generated/torch.save.html#torch.save.
             hash_transform: a callable to compute hash from the transform information when caching.
                 This may reduce errors due to transforms changing during experiments. Default to None (no hash).
@@ -531,7 +537,7 @@ def __init__(
         hash_func: Callable[..., bytes] = pickle_hashing,
         db_name: str = "monai_cache",
         progress: bool = True,
-        pickle_protocol=pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL,
+        pickle_protocol=DEFAULT_PROTOCOL,
         hash_transform: Callable[..., bytes] | None = None,
         reset_ops_id: bool = True,
         lmdb_kwargs: dict | None = None,
@@ -551,8 +557,9 @@ def __init__(
                 defaults to `monai.data.utils.pickle_hashing`.
             db_name: lmdb database file name. Defaults to "monai_cache".
             progress: whether to display a progress bar.
-            pickle_protocol: pickle protocol version. Defaults to pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL.
-                https://docs.python.org/3/library/pickle.html#pickle-protocols
+            pickle_protocol: specifies pickle protocol when saving, with `torch.save`.
+                Defaults to torch.serialization.DEFAULT_PROTOCOL. For more details, please check:
+                https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/generated/torch.save.html#torch.save.
             hash_transform: a callable to compute hash from the transform information when caching.
                 This may reduce errors due to transforms changing during experiments. Default to None (no hash).
                 Other options are `pickle_hashing` and `json_hashing` functions from `monai.data.utils`.
@@ -594,6 +601,15 @@ def set_data(self, data: Sequence):
         super().set_data(data=data)
         self._read_env = self._fill_cache_start_reader(show_progress=self.progress)
 
+    def _safe_serialize(self, val):
+        out = BytesIO()
+        torch.save(convert_to_tensor(val), out, pickle_protocol=self.pickle_protocol)
+        out.seek(0)
+        return out.read()
+
+    def _safe_deserialize(self, val):
+        return torch.load(BytesIO(val), map_location="cpu", weights_only=True)
+
     def _fill_cache_start_reader(self, show_progress=True):
         """
         Check the LMDB cache and write the cache if needed. py-lmdb doesn't have a good support for concurrent write.
@@ -619,7 +635,8 @@ def _fill_cache_start_reader(self, show_progress=True):
                             continue
                         if val is None:
                             val = self._pre_transform(deepcopy(item))  # keep the original hashed
-                            val = pickle.dumps(val, protocol=self.pickle_protocol)
+                            # val = pickle.dumps(val, protocol=self.pickle_protocol)
+                            val = self._safe_serialize(val)
                         with env.begin(write=True) as txn:
                             txn.put(key, val)
                         done = True
@@ -664,7 +681,8 @@ def _cachecheck(self, item_transformed):
             warnings.warn("LMDBDataset: cache key not found, running fallback caching.")
             return super()._cachecheck(item_transformed)
         try:
-            return pickle.loads(data)
+            # return pickle.loads(data)
+            return self._safe_deserialize(data)
         except Exception as err:
             raise RuntimeError("Invalid cache value, corrupted lmdb file?") from err
 
@@ -1650,7 +1668,7 @@ def _create_new_cache(self, data, data_hashfile, meta_hash_file_name):
                 meta_hash_file = self.cache_dir / meta_hash_file_name
                 temp_hash_file = Path(tmpdirname) / meta_hash_file_name
                 torch.save(
-                    obj=self._meta_cache[meta_hash_file_name],
+                    obj=convert_to_tensor(self._meta_cache[meta_hash_file_name], convert_numeric=False),
                     f=temp_hash_file,
                     pickle_module=look_up_option(self.pickle_module, SUPPORTED_PICKLE_MOD),
                     pickle_protocol=self.pickle_protocol,
@@ -1670,4 +1688,4 @@ def _load_meta_cache(self, meta_hash_file_name):
         if meta_hash_file_name in self._meta_cache:
             return self._meta_cache[meta_hash_file_name]
         else:
-            return torch.load(self.cache_dir / meta_hash_file_name, weights_only=False)
+            return torch.load(self.cache_dir / meta_hash_file_name, weights_only=True)
diff --git a/monai/data/meta_tensor.py b/monai/data/meta_tensor.py
index 6425bc0a4f..12bd76ba60 100644
--- a/monai/data/meta_tensor.py
+++ b/monai/data/meta_tensor.py
@@ -611,4 +611,4 @@ def print_verbose(self) -> None:
 
 # needed in later versions of Pytorch to indicate the class is safe for serialisation
 if hasattr(torch.serialization, "add_safe_globals"):
-    torch.serialization.add_safe_globals([MetaTensor])
+    torch.serialization.add_safe_globals([MetaObj, MetaTensor, MetaKeys, SpaceKeys])
diff --git a/monai/data/utils.py b/monai/data/utils.py
index 14217e9103..ca7d5c9d9e 100644
--- a/monai/data/utils.py
+++ b/monai/data/utils.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 import torch
 from torch.utils.data._utils.collate import default_collate
 
-from monai import config
 from monai.config.type_definitions import NdarrayOrTensor, NdarrayTensor, PathLike
 from monai.data.meta_obj import MetaObj
 from monai.utils import (
@@ -93,7 +92,6 @@
     "remove_keys",
     "remove_extra_metadata",
     "get_extra_metadata_keys",
-    "PICKLE_KEY_SUFFIX",
     "is_no_channel",
 ]
 
@@ -418,32 +416,6 @@ def dev_collate(batch, level: int = 1, logger_name: str = "dev_collate"):
     return
 
 
-PICKLE_KEY_SUFFIX = TraceKeys.KEY_SUFFIX
-
-
-def pickle_operations(data, key=PICKLE_KEY_SUFFIX, is_encode: bool = True):
-    """
-    Applied_operations are dictionaries with varying sizes, this method converts them to bytes so that we can (de-)collate.
-
-    Args:
-        data: a list or dictionary with substructures to be pickled/unpickled.
-        key: the key suffix for the target substructures, defaults to "_transforms" (`data.utils.PICKLE_KEY_SUFFIX`).
-        is_encode: whether it's encoding using pickle.dumps (True) or decoding using pickle.loads (False).
-    """
-    if isinstance(data, Mapping):
-        data = dict(data)
-        for k in data:
-            if f"{k}".endswith(key):
-                if is_encode and not isinstance(data[k], bytes):
-                    data[k] = pickle.dumps(data[k], 0)
-                if not is_encode and isinstance(data[k], bytes):
-                    data[k] = pickle.loads(data[k])
-        return {k: pickle_operations(v, key=key, is_encode=is_encode) for k, v in data.items()}
-    elif isinstance(data, (list, tuple)):
-        return [pickle_operations(item, key=key, is_encode=is_encode) for item in data]
-    return data
-
-
 def collate_meta_tensor_fn(batch, *, collate_fn_map=None):
     """
     Collate a sequence of meta tensor into a single batched metatensor. This is called by `collage_meta_tensor`
@@ -500,8 +472,8 @@ def list_data_collate(batch: Sequence):
     key = None
     collate_fn = default_collate
     try:
-        if config.USE_META_DICT:
-            data = pickle_operations(data)  # bc 0.9.0
+        # if config.USE_META_DICT:
+        # data = pickle_operations(data)  # bc 0.9.0
         if isinstance(elem, Mapping):
             ret = {}
             for k in elem:
@@ -654,15 +626,17 @@ def decollate_batch(batch, detach: bool = True, pad=True, fill_value=None):
     if isinstance(deco, Mapping):
         _gen = zip_longest(*deco.values(), fillvalue=fill_value) if pad else zip(*deco.values())
         ret = [dict(zip(deco, item)) for item in _gen]
-        if not config.USE_META_DICT:
-            return ret
-        return pickle_operations(ret, is_encode=False)  # bc 0.9.0
+        # if not config.USE_META_DICT:
+        # return ret
+        # return pickle_operations(ret, is_encode=False)  # bc 0.9.0
+        return ret
     if isinstance(deco, Iterable):
         _gen = zip_longest(*deco, fillvalue=fill_value) if pad else zip(*deco)
         ret_list = [list(item) for item in _gen]
-        if not config.USE_META_DICT:
-            return ret_list
-        return pickle_operations(ret_list, is_encode=False)  # bc 0.9.0
+        # if not config.USE_META_DICT:
+        # return ret_list
+        # return pickle_operations(ret_list, is_encode=False)  # bc 0.9.0
+        return ret_list
     raise NotImplementedError(f"Unable to de-collate: {batch}, type: {type(batch)}.")
 
 
diff --git a/monai/handlers/checkpoint_loader.py b/monai/handlers/checkpoint_loader.py
index 16cb875d03..105b4f3a79 100644
--- a/monai/handlers/checkpoint_loader.py
+++ b/monai/handlers/checkpoint_loader.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def __call__(self, engine: Engine) -> None:
         Args:
             engine: Ignite Engine, it can be a trainer, validator or evaluator.
         """
-        checkpoint = torch.load(self.load_path, map_location=self.map_location, weights_only=False)
+        checkpoint = torch.load(self.load_path, map_location=self.map_location, weights_only=True)
 
         k, _ = list(self.load_dict.items())[0]
         # single object and checkpoint is directly a state_dict
diff --git a/monai/utils/state_cacher.py b/monai/utils/state_cacher.py
index c59436525c..e0eeef6001 100644
--- a/monai/utils/state_cacher.py
+++ b/monai/utils/state_cacher.py
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ def __init__(
             pickle_module: module used for pickling metadata and objects, default to `pickle`.
                 this arg is used by `torch.save`, for more details, please check:
                 https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/generated/torch.save.html#torch.save.
-            pickle_protocol: can be specified to override the default protocol, default to `2`.
-                this arg is used by `torch.save`, for more details, please check:
+            pickle_protocol: specifies pickle protocol when saving, with `torch.save`.
+                Defaults to torch.serialization.DEFAULT_PROTOCOL. For more details, please check:
                 https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/generated/torch.save.html#torch.save.
 
         """
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def retrieve(self, key: Hashable) -> Any:
         fn = self.cached[key]["obj"]  # pytype: disable=attribute-error
         if not os.path.exists(fn):  # pytype: disable=wrong-arg-types
             raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to load state in {fn}. File doesn't exist anymore.")
-        data_obj = torch.load(fn, map_location=lambda storage, location: storage, weights_only=False)
+        data_obj = torch.load(fn, map_location=lambda storage, location: storage, weights_only=True)
         # copy back to device if necessary
         if "device" in self.cached[key]:
             data_obj = data_obj.to(self.cached[key]["device"])
diff --git a/monai/utils/type_conversion.py b/monai/utils/type_conversion.py
index 420e935b33..b5dfb580c5 100644
--- a/monai/utils/type_conversion.py
+++ b/monai/utils/type_conversion.py
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ def convert_to_tensor(
     wrap_sequence: bool = False,
     track_meta: bool = False,
     safe: bool = False,
+    convert_numeric: bool = True,
 ) -> Any:
     """
     Utility to convert the input data to a PyTorch Tensor, if `track_meta` is True, the output will be a `MetaTensor`,
@@ -136,6 +137,7 @@ def convert_to_tensor(
         safe: if `True`, then do safe dtype convert when intensity overflow. default to `False`.
             E.g., `[256, -12]` -> `[tensor(0), tensor(244)]`.
             If `True`, then `[256, -12]` -> `[tensor(255), tensor(0)]`.
+        convert_numeric: if `True`, convert numeric Python values to tensors.
 
     """
 
@@ -156,6 +158,7 @@ def _convert_tensor(tensor: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
     if safe:
         data = safe_dtype_range(data, dtype)
     dtype = get_equivalent_dtype(dtype, torch.Tensor)
+
     if isinstance(data, torch.Tensor):
         return _convert_tensor(data).to(dtype=dtype, device=device, memory_format=torch.contiguous_format)
     if isinstance(data, np.ndarray):
@@ -167,16 +170,25 @@ def _convert_tensor(tensor: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
             if data.ndim > 0:
                 data = np.ascontiguousarray(data)
             return _convert_tensor(data, dtype=dtype, device=device)
-    elif (has_cp and isinstance(data, cp_ndarray)) or isinstance(data, (float, int, bool)):
+    elif (has_cp and isinstance(data, cp_ndarray)) or (convert_numeric and isinstance(data, (float, int, bool))):
         return _convert_tensor(data, dtype=dtype, device=device)
     elif isinstance(data, list):
-        list_ret = [convert_to_tensor(i, dtype=dtype, device=device, track_meta=track_meta) for i in data]
+        list_ret = [
+            convert_to_tensor(i, dtype=dtype, device=device, track_meta=track_meta, convert_numeric=convert_numeric)
+            for i in data
+        ]
         return _convert_tensor(list_ret, dtype=dtype, device=device) if wrap_sequence else list_ret
     elif isinstance(data, tuple):
-        tuple_ret = tuple(convert_to_tensor(i, dtype=dtype, device=device, track_meta=track_meta) for i in data)
+        tuple_ret = tuple(
+            convert_to_tensor(i, dtype=dtype, device=device, track_meta=track_meta, convert_numeric=convert_numeric)
+            for i in data
+        )
         return _convert_tensor(tuple_ret, dtype=dtype, device=device) if wrap_sequence else tuple_ret
     elif isinstance(data, dict):
-        return {k: convert_to_tensor(v, dtype=dtype, device=device, track_meta=track_meta) for k, v in data.items()}
+        return {
+            k: convert_to_tensor(v, dtype=dtype, device=device, track_meta=track_meta, convert_numeric=convert_numeric)
+            for k, v in data.items()
+        }
 
     return data
 
diff --git a/tests/data/meta_tensor/test_meta_tensor.py b/tests/data/meta_tensor/test_meta_tensor.py
index c0e53fd24c..427902f784 100644
--- a/tests/data/meta_tensor/test_meta_tensor.py
+++ b/tests/data/meta_tensor/test_meta_tensor.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def test_pickling(self):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
             fname = os.path.join(tmp_dir, "im.pt")
             torch.save(m, fname)
-            m2 = torch.load(fname, weights_only=False)
+            m2 = torch.load(fname, weights_only=True)
         self.check(m2, m, ids=False)
 
     @skip_if_no_cuda
diff --git a/tests/data/test_gdsdataset.py b/tests/data/test_gdsdataset.py
index b4acb3bf55..aa802249bc 100644
--- a/tests/data/test_gdsdataset.py
+++ b/tests/data/test_gdsdataset.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
-import pickle
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 
@@ -86,7 +85,8 @@ def test_cache(self):
                     cache_dir=tempdir,
                     device=0,
                     pickle_module="pickle",
-                    pickle_protocol=pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL,
+                    # TODO: was pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL but this wasn't compatible with torch.load, need to improve compatibility
+                    pickle_protocol=torch.serialization.DEFAULT_PROTOCOL,
                 )
                 assert_allclose(items[0], p(np.arange(0, np.prod(shape)).reshape(shape)))
                 ds1 = GDSDataset(items, transform=_InplaceXform(), cache_dir=tempdir, device=0)
diff --git a/tests/data/test_persistentdataset.py b/tests/data/test_persistentdataset.py
index 7c4969e283..7bf1245592 100644
--- a/tests/data/test_persistentdataset.py
+++ b/tests/data/test_persistentdataset.py
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
-import pickle
 import tempfile
 import unittest
 
 import nibabel as nib
 import numpy as np
+import torch
 from parameterized import parameterized
 
 from monai.data import PersistentDataset, json_hashing
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ def test_cache(self):
                 transform=_InplaceXform(),
                 cache_dir=tempdir,
                 pickle_module="pickle",
-                pickle_protocol=pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL,
+                # TODO: was pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL but this wasn't compatible with torch.load, need to improve compatibility
+                pickle_protocol=torch.serialization.DEFAULT_PROTOCOL,
             )
             self.assertEqual(items, [[[]], [[0]], [[0, 1]], [[0, 1, 2]], [[0, 1, 2, 3]]])
             ds1 = PersistentDataset(items, transform=_InplaceXform(), cache_dir=tempdir)
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_state_cacher.py b/tests/utils/test_state_cacher.py
index 22c2836239..6e6eabf03d 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_state_cacher.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_state_cacher.py
@@ -27,7 +27,13 @@
 TEST_CASE_0 = [torch.Tensor([1]).to(DEVICE), {"in_memory": True}]
 TEST_CASE_1 = [
     torch.Tensor([1]).to(DEVICE),
-    {"in_memory": False, "cache_dir": gettempdir(), "pickle_module": None, "pickle_protocol": pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL},
+    {
+        "in_memory": False,
+        "cache_dir": gettempdir(),
+        "pickle_module": None,
+        # TODO: was pickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL but this wasn't compatible with torch.load, need to improve compatibility
+        "pickle_protocol": torch.serialization.DEFAULT_PROTOCOL,
+    },
 ]
 TEST_CASE_2 = [torch.Tensor([1]).to(DEVICE), {"in_memory": False, "allow_overwrite": False}]
 TEST_CASE_3 = [torch.Tensor([1]).to(DEVICE), {"in_memory": False, "cache_dir": Path(gettempdir())}]