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Published on: February 10, 2023
Porphyrin derivatives-mediated sonodynamic therapy for malignant gliomas in vitro
Shogo Endo1, Nobuki Kudo2, Shigeru Yamaguchi1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
Because it is highly infiltrative, malignant glioma is a cancer with a poor prognosis despite multidisciplinary treatment strategies, such as aggressive surgery and chemoradiotherapy, necessitating new therapeutic approaches to control migration of tumor cells. In our study, we investigated the efficacy of sonodynamic therapy of glioma cells in vitro using porphyrin derivatives, including 5-aminolevulinic acid, protoporphyrin IX and talaporfin sodium, as sonosensitizers. These substances have been known to accumulate in glioma cells and are expected to have cytotoxic effects on sonication. Our study found that the cytotoxicity of sonication of glioma cells is enhanced by each sonosensitizer and that the efficacy of sonodynamic therapy may depend on the degree of intracellular accumulation of sonosensitizer. Also, the study suggests that induction of apoptosis is a major mechanism underlying cell death. Though further investigations are necessary, our preliminary result indicates a potential for sonodynamic therapy with sonosensitizers in glioma treatment.
Insights
Sonodynamic therapy shows promise for treating malignant glioma. Using porphyrin derivatives as sonosensitizers enhances cancer cell death, potentially through apoptosis, offering a new therapeutic avenue.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Malignant glioma is highly infiltrative, leading to poor prognosis despite current treatments.
- New therapeutic strategies are needed to control glioma cell migration and improve outcomes.
- Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) presents a potential novel approach for glioma treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) on glioma cells in vitro.
- To evaluate porphyrin derivatives (5-aminolevulinic acid, protoporphyrin IX, talaporfin sodium) as sonosensitizers for glioma.
- To explore the mechanism of cell death induced by SDT in glioma cells.
Main Methods:
- In vitro sonodynamic therapy was applied to glioma cells.
- Porphyrin derivatives (5-aminolevulinic acid, protoporphyrin IX, talaporfin sodium) were used as sonosensitizers.
- Intracellular accumulation of sonosensitizers and induction of apoptosis were assessed.
Main Results:
- Sonication enhanced the cytotoxicity of glioma cells when combined with each sonosensitizer.
- The efficacy of SDT appeared to correlate with the degree of intracellular sonosensitizer accumulation.
- Induction of apoptosis was identified as a primary mechanism for cell death.
Conclusions:
- Sonodynamic therapy with porphyrin-based sonosensitizers demonstrates potential in treating glioma.
- Further research is warranted to optimize SDT protocols and confirm its clinical applicability.
- SDT offers a promising new strategy to target and eliminate malignant glioma cells.

