Co-localization of photosensitizers and Reactive Oxygen Species in the Process of Cell Death in Photodynamic Therapy

• Grant number: 11/16234-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Pacheco Soares
• Grantee: Eriane Eller de Siqueira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recent evidence indicates that PDT directly eliminates tumor cells by induction of apoptosis as well as efficient means of non-apoptotic cell death. The identification of molecular effectors that regulate the intersection between apoptosis and other sub-routes of cell death (eg necrosis, autophagic cell death) is an area of intense research in cancer therapy. Signaling molecules modulating the induction of different pathways of cell death can become targets to induce photo damage or increase in tumor cells deficient in apoptotic pathways, which is a crucial step in carcinogenesis and resistance terapêutica.Frente this framework the need for more studies encompassing better understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in PDT, photosensitizers and their new mechanisms of action, due to their cellular location, whether it is necessary to further increase the efficiency of this new therapy for cancer in general.