Phthalocyanine and Its Formulations: A Promising Photosensitizer for Cervical Cancer Phototherapy

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Despite advances in current therapies, women with advanced or recurrent disease present poor prognosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an effective therapeutic alternative to treat oncological diseases such as cervical cancer. Phthalocyanines (Pcs) are considered good photosensitizers (PS) for PDT, although most of them present high levels of aggregation and are lipophilic. Despite many investigations and encouraging results, Pcs have not been approved as PS for PDT of invasive cervical cancer yet. This review presents an overview on the pathophysiology of cervical cancer and summarizes the most recent developments on the physicochemical properties of Pcs and biological results obtained both in vitro in tumor-bearing mice and in clinical tests reported in the last five years. Current evidence indicates that Pcs have potential as pharmaceutical agents for anti-cervical cancer therapy. The authors firmly believe that Pc-based formulations could emerge as a privileged scaffold for the establishment of lead compounds for PDT against different types of cervical cancer.

Low-Dose Near-Infrared Light-Activated Mitochondria-Targeting Photosensitizers for PDT Cancer Therapy

“…Interestingly, the photo-induced cytotoxicity of these PSs correlates rather well with the production of 1 O 2 ( Table 1 ). In order to evaluate the action of the best PS, MLC31 , against HeLa cells further, a comparison between its phototoxicity and those of the best molecular Pc-based PSs reported in literature was made ( Table 3 ) [ 55 ]. This shows a clear trend that an increasing positive charge leads to a more phototoxic PS.…”

(Nano)platforms in bladder cancer therapy: Challenges and opportunities

“… 121 Three main components are required for an appropriate PDT including photoactive drug, light with a proper wavelength, and molecular oxygen. 121 Upon exposure to light, excitation of photoactive drug to its triplet state occurs that interacts with oxygen in tissue, leading to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). PDT is considered as one of the most promising approaches in treatment of cancer and it has low side effects and partially affects neighboring cells and tissues.…”

“…Since then, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been considered as a promising strategy in the treatment of cancer 121 . Three main components are required for an appropriate PDT including photoactive drug, light with a proper wavelength, and molecular oxygen 121 . Upon exposure to light, excitation of photoactive drug to its triplet state occurs that interacts with oxygen in tissue, leading to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).…”

Liposomes loaded with dual clinical photosensitizers for enhanced photodynamic therapy of cervical cancer

“…The PDT process includes three key components-a photosensitizer (PS), a light source of the ideal wavelength, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). [12][13][14] When the PS is irradiated by a laser of a specic wavelength, it can transfer energy to oxygen or oxygen-containing groups in the surrounding environment, and nally generates ROS. [15][16][17][18][19] PDT exhibited superiority such as minimal invasiveness, favourable safety, fewer side effects, good repeatability, and relatively low cost.…”