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Photodynamic effect in medulloblastoma: downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and human telomerase reverse

Ellie Shihng Meir Chu1, Thomas Kwok Shing Wong, Christine Miu Ngan Yow

  • 1Medical Laboratory Science, Department of Health Technology & Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HKSAR.

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences : Official Journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology
|January 3, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Photodynamic therapy using Hexvix (ALA-H) effectively reduced tumor cell invasion and immortality by down-regulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in medulloblastoma cells.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Photodynamic Therapy

Background:

  • Tumor invasion and immortality pose significant challenges in cancer treatment.
  • Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) are key factors in tumor progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the photodynamic modulation of MMP and hTERT in medulloblastoma (MED) cells.
  • To compare the efficacy of Hexvix (ALA-H) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized medulloblastoma cell line (TE-671).
  • Administered Hexvix (ALA-H) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT).
  • Quantified MMP-2 and hTERT expression using ELISA and RT-PCR; assessed cell migration inhibition.

Main Results:

  • Hexvix (ALA-H) PDT showed superior drug uptake and anti-proliferative effects compared to 5-ALA.
  • MMP-2 and hTERT expressions were significantly down-regulated post-treatment.
  • MMP-9 expression remained unchanged.
  • Cell migration was significantly inhibited at 24 h post-ALA-H-PDT.

Conclusions:

  • MMP-2 and hTERT mRNA expressions are potential targets for photodynamic intervention against tumor cell migration and immortality.
  • PDT may serve as an alternative therapeutic strategy for medulloblastoma.

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