title: Topical 4-thiothymidine is a viable photosensitiser for the photodynamic therapy of skin malignancies.
abstract: The nucleoside analogue 4-thiothymidine has shown great potential in vitro as a photosensitiser for the photodynamic therapy of numerous cancer cell lines. However, the limited penetrating power of UV-A radiation, to which it responds, raises doubts as to its practical usefulness in clinical applications. We addressed this issue by studying the penetration extent of topical thiothymidine and the antiproliferative effect of its combination with UV-A radiation on ex vivo basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) skin cancer biopsies, and normal skin. Our results show that both the intralesional concentration of the drug and the intensity of UV-A radiation are sufficient to activate the molecule and cause extensive death by apoptosis of the malignant cells. Normal skin biopsies were not significantly affected by the treatment.
authors: Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Tumour Biology, London, UK.
authors: Emilios
authors: E
authors: Gemenetzidis
authors: Oksana
authors: O
authors: Shavorskaya
authors: Yao-Zhong
authors: YZ
authors: Xu
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Trigiante
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012869:Skin Absorption; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: C414668:4-thiothymidine; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D013936:Thymidine