title: Enhancing the efficiency of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy using 5-fluorouracil on human melanoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  5-Aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is an effective and noninvasive modality for treatment of several types of non-melanoma skin cancers. This in-vitro study attempted to know whether the killing effect of ALA-PDT on the human melanoma cells (Mel-Rm cell line) could be increased by the presence of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the effect of ALA-PDT in combination with 5-FU on viability of human melanoma Mel-Rm cells, the cells incubated with 5-ALA and 5-FU for 3h in nontoxic concentrations, and subsequently illuminated with a 630 nm light-emitting diode array. The cells viability and cytotoxicity determined by mitochondrial activity and lactate dehydrogenase assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combination of ALA-PDT and 5-FU (FU-ALA-PDT) showed a considerable growth inhibition according to the results of MTT assay compared to ALA-PDT. The results of LDH assay also showed a cytotoxicity effect in ALA-PDT; however, the FU-ALA-PDT showed no significantly enhancement in cytotoxicity compared to ALA-PDT using LDH assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Mel-Rm cells incubation with 5-FU before PDT enhances the efficiency of 5-Aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy.
authors: M.Sc. in Medical Physics, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: ht.tahmasebi99@gmail.com.
authors: Hadis
authors: H
authors: Tahmasebi
authors: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: khoshgardk@gmail.com.
authors: Karim
authors: K
authors: Khoshgard
authors: Medical Physics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: sazgarniaa@mums.ac.ir.
authors: Ameneh
authors: A
authors: Sazgarnia
authors: Department of Immunology, Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: amostafaie@kums.ac.ir.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Mostafaie
authors: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: drmteivazi@yahoo.com.
authors: Mohammad Taghi
authors: MT
authors: Eivazi
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: 5-Aminolevulinic acid; 5-Fluorouracil; Mel-Rm cell line; Photodynamic therapy; Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX)