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Abstract

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a photo-oxidative anticancer treatment that uses three harmful elements: a photosensitizer drug (PS), light in specific wavelengths, and oxygen. The photo-activation of PS molecules increases the energy level of these drugs that may transfer energy to molecular oxygen or even to surrounding biomolecules to produce a series of cytotoxic reactive species � primarily reactive oxygen species � that destroy target cells. Our research group developed some reports with the combination of these PS drugs with nanostructured carriers for the treatment of tumor models in experimental mice. One of the main results observed was the prevention of regional and distance metastasis in these experimental mice. These preliminary results generated great interest because this local treatment can prevent the development of distant metastases. At the moment the literature supports that we can speculate two main explanations for that event: The first hypothesis is that the selective destruction of surrounding tumor blood and lymphatic vessels that impair the dissemination of metastatic tumor cells. The second hypothesis is that the PDT application can activate the immune system against tumor cells after PDT. Recently, we presented some results with these two main mechanisms in an oral cancer and a breast cancer tumor in mice. Based on these reports with the prevention of local and distant metastasis, we believe that PDT could be used in combination with other traditional protocols, such as surgery and chemotherapy, to improve the success rate in cancer treatment.

Biography

Email: jplongo82@gmail.com