title: Molecular effectors of multiple cell death pathways initiated by photodynamic therapy.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a recently developed anticancer modality utilizing the generation of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species, through visible light irradiation of a photosensitive dye accumulated in the cancerous tissue. Multiple signaling cascades are concomitantly activated in cancer cells exposed to the photodynamic stress and depending on the subcellular localization of the damaging ROS, these signals are transduced into adaptive or cell death responses. Recent evidence indicates that PDT can kill cancer cells directly by the efficient induction of apoptotic as well as non-apoptotic cell death pathways. The identification of the molecular effectors regulating the cross-talk between apoptosis and other major cell death subroutines (e.g. necrosis, autophagic cell death) is an area of intense research in cancer therapy. Signaling molecules modulating the induction of different cell death pathways can become useful targets to induce or increase photokilling in cancer cells harboring defects in apoptotic pathways, which is a crucial step in carcinogenesis and therapy resistance. This review highlights recent developments aimed at deciphering the molecular interplay between cell death pathways as well as their possible therapeutic exploitation in photosensitized cells.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven Belgium.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Buytaert
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Dewaele
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Agostinis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy; D016923:Cell Death; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009336:Necrosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents