Hiporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy in preclinical treatment of osteosarcoma

This study was carried out to investigate the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of hiporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy (hiporfin-PDT) in osteosarcoma. We found that hiporfin accumulated mainly in the cytoplasm of osteosarcoma cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Hiporfin-PDT inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis and produced cell cycle arrest at G2M in osteosarcoma cell lines. Hiporfin-PDT increased the expression of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved PARP-1, Bax and RIP1 while it decreased the expression of Bcl-2; in addition, low concentration of hiporfin increased LC3 conversion. Furthermore, cell death caused by hiporfin-PDT could be rescued by Nec-1 but not by Z-VAD-FMK. Production of reactive oxygen species was increased after hiporfin-PDT. In vivo studies showed a significant decrease in tumor volume and weight after hiporfin-PDT in all three tumor mouse models investigated (subcutaneous and orthotopic). Histological analysis showed widespread cell apoptosis and necrosis after treatment. Immunohistochemistry also showed upregulation of cleaved-caspase-3 and downregulation of Bcl-2 after hiporfin-PDT. These results indicate that hiporfin-PDT exhibits a killing effect in osteosarcoma both in vitro and in vivo, which is associated with apoptosis and necroptosis, while autophagy plays a protective role. All these findings shed light on a potential future clinical use for hiporfin in the treatment of osteosarcoma.