A RECENT study has demonstrated the potential of combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) with cisplatin to more effectively treat human lung adenocarcinoma. The study, which was conducted on nude mice with transplanted A549 lung cancer tumours, found that the combination of these two treatments significantly inhibited tumour growth compared to either therapy alone.
In the study, mice were divided into four groups: a control group, a cisplatin-only group, a PDT-only group, and a combined cisplatin and PDT group. The researchers used TUNEL staining to observe tumour cell apoptosis (programmed cell death), and measured the expression of key apoptosis-related genes (Bax, caspase-3, and Survivin) through real-time PCR and protein immunoblotting.
The results revealed that the combined therapy not only suppressed tumour growth more effectively but also triggered a higher rate of apoptosis in tumour cells. The combination therapy upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic genes Bax and caspase-3, while downregulating Survivin, an anti-apoptotic gene. These changes suggest that the combined treatment works by promoting cell death and inhibiting cell proliferation.
This study highlights the promising therapeutic potential of combining PDT with cisplatin, offering a new strategy to improve outcomes in lung cancer treatment. These findings may lay the groundwork for future clinical applications of PDT in combination with traditional chemotherapy, providing hope for more effective treatments for lung cancer patients.
Helena Bradbury, EMJ
Reference
Li T et al. Effectiveness and mechanism of cisplatin combined with PDT on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells transplanted tumor in nude mice. Sci Repos. 2025;15:10062.
