title: Photosensitizers binding to nucleic acids as anticancer agents.
abstract: Cationic porphyrins (Prs) and phthalocyanines (Pcs) are strong photosensitizers that have drawn much attention for their potential in photodynamic therapy. These compounds have the interesting property of binding to nucleic acids, in particular G-rich quadruplex-forming sequences in DNA and RNA. In this review, we highlight their potential as anticancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 3100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Xodo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 3100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cogoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 3100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rapozzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D054833:Isoindoles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D054833:Isoindoles; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D018631:ras Proteins; C013647:phthalocyanine
keywords: B78-H1; KRAS; Panc-1; RNA-quadruplexes; cancer; cationic phthalocyanines; cationic porphyrins; mRNA suppression; photodynamic therapy; singlet oxygen