title: The efficacy of Radachlorin-mediated photodynamic therapy in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively novel modality for the treatment of cancer and some non-malignant lesions. PDT uses a photosensitive drug and light to destroy malignant cells. The aim of this study was to determine in vitro efficacy of Radachlorin-based PDT (Radachlorin-PDT) on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used human liver cancer cells (HepG2) and normal liver cells (HFLF-PI4) to evaluate cell viability using the standard 2-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-3,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The mechanism of cell death following Radachlorin-PDT was determined by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radachlorin without light irradiation had no toxic effect on HepG2 and HFLF-PI4 cells. Cell survival of HepG2 and HFLF-PI4 cells were decreased following PDT in a concentration-dependent manner. However, HepG2 cells were much more sensitive to Radachlorin-PDT than HFLF-PI4 cells. Radachlorin LD50 on HepG2 cells was 30μg/ml and 20μg/ml, 24h after exposure to doses of 5J/cm(2) and 15, or 25J/cm(2), respectively. Optimal Radachlorin and light dose to kill HepG2 cells with minimal effects on normal HFLF-PI4 cells were 100μg/ml and 15J/cm(2), respectively. Our results also showed that apoptosis is induced in HepG2 cells following Radachlorin-PDT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our in vitro data suggest that the use of PDT with Radachlorin can be effective in the treatment of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Laser Application in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.affiliation: Medical Laser Research Center, Iranian Center for Medical Lasers (ICML), Academic Center for Education, Culture & Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza Esmaeeli
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Djavid
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Center, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Hadizadehmahnaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadizadeh
authors.affiliation: Medical Laser Research Center, Iranian Center for Medical Lasers (ICML), Academic Center for Education, Culture & Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahanshiri-Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, Shohada Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parastoo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hajian
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C000593241:bremachlorin