title: Treatment with near-infrared radiation promotes apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.
abstract: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of human mortality worldwide. Radiation and chemotherapy are commonly used for cancer treatment; however, the combination of these therapies and surgery do not completely eradicate cancer cells. Near-infrared radiation (NIR) is a low-energy form of radiation that exerts multiple effects on mammalian cells. Previous studies have reported that NIR induces DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis of cancer cells. In the present study, a 915-nm laser was used to examine the effects of NIR on pancreatic cancer cells. Irradiation of pancreatic cancer cells using a 915-nm laser significantly induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. In addition, the combination of gemcitabine treatment and a 915-nm laser synergistically increased the number of apoptotic cells. The results of the present study indicate the use of infrared irradiation and chemotherapy may be a possible therapy for the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Funasaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Eizaburo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirooka
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Michinari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senga
keywords: apoptosis; caspase-3; gemcitabine; near-infrared radiation; pancreatic cancer