Involvement of mitochondria in apoptosis of cancer cells induced by photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a promising cancer treatment that employs a combination of a photosensitizing chemical, oxygen, and visible light, induces apoptosis in tumor cells. However, the precise mechanism of PDT-induced apoptosis is not well characterized. Many of the photosensitizers currently in clinical or pre-clinical studies of PDT are localized in or have a major influence on mitochondria. The treatment with PDT causes mitochondrial damage and induces apoptosis through the release of cytochrome c (cyt c), apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), Smac/DIABLO and certain procaspases. Proapoptotic and antiapoptotic members of BcL-2 family regulate the release of these proteins from mitochondria. The purpose of this mini-review is to present some recent publications that focus on the involvement of the mitochondria in apoptosis of cancer cells induced by PDT.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ribeiro,Joselito Nardy, Silva,André Romero da, Jorge,Renato Atilio
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Patologia Clínica 2004
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1676-24442004000600005
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!