title: The translocator protein as a potential molecular target for improved treatment efficacy in photodynamic therapy.
abstract: Since its serendipitous discovery over 30 years ago, the translocator protein (18 kDa) has been demonstrated to play an important role in a multitude of critical biological processes. Although implemented as a novel therapeutic and diagnostic tool for a variety of disease states, its most promising role is as a molecular target for anticancer treatments such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). This review gives an overview of the attempts made by researchers to design porphyrin-based photosensitizers for use as anticancer therapeutics in PDT as well as improved imaging agents for diagnostic purposes. With a better understanding of the structure and function of the translocator protein, the synthesis of porphyrins for use in PDT with optimum binding affinities will become ever more possible.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, SFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Mathias O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Senge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D018079:Receptors, GABA; C499229:TSPO protein, human