Autophagy Regulation and Photodynamic Therapy: Insights to Improve Outcomes of Cancer Treatment

Author(s)

Martins, Waleska K. ^[1] ; Belotto, Renata ^[2] ; Silva, Maryana N. ^[1] ; Grasso, Daniel ^[3] ; Suriani, Maynne D. ^[4] ; Lavor, Tayna S. ^[4] ; Itri, Rosangela ^[5] ; Baptista, Mauricio S. ^[6] ; Tsubone, Tayana M. ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Anhanguera Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Cell & Membrane, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Perola Byington Hosp, Gynecol Lasertherapy Clin Res Dept, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Buenos Aires, Inst Estudios Inmunidad Humoral IDEHU, CONICET, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[4] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Chem, Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Phys, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY; v. 10, JAN 20 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Cancer is considered an age-related disease that, over the next 10 years, will become the most prevalent health problem worldwide. Although cancer therapy has remarkably improved in the last few decades, novel treatment concepts are needed to defeat this disease. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) signalize a pathway to treat and manage several types of cancer. Over the past three decades, new light sources and photosensitizers (PS) have been developed to be applied in PDT. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge to explain the main biochemical routes needed to trigger regulated cell death mechanisms, affecting, considerably, the scope of the PDT. Although autophagy modulation is being raised as an interesting strategy to be used in cancer therapy, the main aspects referring to the autophagy role over cell succumbing PDT-photoinduced damage remain elusive. Several reports emphasize cytoprotective autophagy, as an ultimate attempt of cells to cope with the photo-induced stress and to survive. Moreover, other underlying molecular mechanisms that evoke PDT-resistance of tumor cells were considered. We reviewed the paradigm about the PDT-regulated cell death mechanisms that involve autophagic impairment or boosted activation. To comprise the autophagy-targeted PDT-protocols to treat cancer, it was underlined those that alleviate or intensify PDT-resistance of tumor cells. Thereby, this review provides insights into the mechanisms by which PDT can be used to modulate autophagy and emphasizes how this field represents a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/07642-6 - Autophagy activation/inhibition by triterpenoids and the impact of membranes interaction: therapeutic implications on tumor response
• Grantee: Waleska Kerllen Martins Gardesani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/07937-8 - Redoxome - Redox Processes in Biomedicine
• Grantee: Ohara Augusto
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 16/23071-9 - Photosensitization in lysosomal mimetic membranes to investigate the cell death mechanism related to autophagy.
• Grantee: Tayana Mazin Tsubone
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/22922-0 - Modulation of autophagy by biochemical and photochemical stress: therapeutic implications
• Grantee: Waleska Kerllen Martins Gardesani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants