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Apoptosis in glioma cells treated with PDT
Luis Fernando Tirapelli1, Marcelo Morgueti, Daniela Pretti da Cunha Tirapelli
1Department of Surgery and Anatomy, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
Background:
Despite significant advances in neurosurgical techniques, the median survival time of patients with glioblastoma has improved little over the past 50 years and remains less than one year. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is presently established as a widely accepted modality for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors.
Objectives:
This study evaluated the effect of PDT-Photogem(®) on five glioma cell lines (U87, U138, U251, U343, and T98G).
Methods:
The experiments were carried out in 25-cm(3) flasks with different groups of cells seeded at a density of 1 × 10(5) cells per flask. After 3 h, the medium was removed, and the cells were incubated for 4 h with Photogem (5 μg/mL). After the incubation time, the photosensitizer-containing medium was removed and the cells were irradiated with LED (630 nm, 25 mW/cm(2), 25 J/cm(2)) devices for 17 min. For the final steps of the PDT, the cells were returned to the incubator and kept at 37°C with 5% CO(2) for 24 h, the cell viability assay was assessed using the trypan blue method, and the expression of Caspase 3 mRNA levels was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR.
Results:
Upon PDT-Photogem(®) treatment, viable cells, as evaluated by the trypan blue dye-exclusion method, decreased in two cell lines (U87 and U138) but not in the other three. Apoptosis, as assessed by the expression of caspase-3 mRNA levels, was at least partly involved in the death mechanism of the cell lines.
Conclusions:
Collectively, our results indicated that PDT-Photogem(®) can act in glioma cells, thus encouraging new experiments in this field.
Insights
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Photogem shows potential in treating glioma cells by inducing apoptosis. Further research is encouraged to explore PDT-Photogem efficacy in glioblastoma treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Glioblastoma median survival remains poor despite surgical advances.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an established cancer treatment modality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of PDT-Photogem on five human glioma cell lines.
- To assess the impact of PDT-Photogem on glioma cell viability and apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Glioma cells (U87, U138, U251, U343, T98G) were treated with Photogem (5 μg/mL).
- Cells were irradiated with LED light (630 nm, 25 mW/cm², 25 J/cm²).
- Cell viability was assessed using trypan blue, and apoptosis via Caspase 3 mRNA levels.
Main Results:
- PDT-Photogem reduced viable cells in U87 and U138 glioma cell lines.
- Apoptosis, indicated by Caspase 3 mRNA expression, was partly responsible for cell death.
Conclusions:
- PDT-Photogem demonstrates activity against glioma cells.
- Results support further investigation of PDT-Photogem for glioblastoma treatment.
