Episode notes
The combination of photodynamic therapy with chemotherapy (photochemotherapy, PCT) can lead to additive or synergistic antitumor effects. Usually, two different molecules, a photosensitizer (PS) and a chemotherapeutic drug are used in PCT. Doxorubicin is one of the most successful chemotherapy drugs. Despite its high efficacy, two factors limit its clinical use: severe side effects and the development of chemoresistance. Doxorubicin is a chromophore, able to absorb light in the visible range, making it a potential PS. Here, we exploited the intrinsic photosensitizing properties of doxorubicin to enhance its anticancer activity in leukemia, breast, and epidermoid carcinoma cells, upon irradiation. Light can selectively trigger the local generation of reactive oxygen specie ...
Keywords
chemoresistancephotochemotherapychemotherapypctdoxorubicinreactive oxygen species