Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

Controlled killing of human cervical cancer cells by combined action of blue light and C-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

In this study, C-doped TiO

Clinical efficacy, safety and prognostic factors of photodynamic therapy for human papillomavirus infection with vaginal squamous intraepithelial lesion

The management of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) is complicated by its high recurrence rate and the significant drawbacks of conventional therapies, which range from poor adherence to drug regimens to the invasiveness of surgical procedures. 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) represents a promising, non-invasive therapeutic modality for this condition. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy, safety and prognosis of ALA-PDT in the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection complicated with VaIN. Between 1 January 2022 and 31 July 2024, a total of 156 patients diagnosed with VaIN were retrospectively identified through convenience sampling at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University. Clinical treatment and follow-up data were collected for retrospective analysis. No significant differences were observed in cervical disease, lesion location, body mass index, HPV type or disease classification across different age groups (p > 0.05). Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of ThinPrep cytologic test negativity, HPV negativity, pathological recovery, patient satisfaction or adverse reactions among different age groups, HPV type groups or disease groups at 3, 6 and 12 months following the final treatment (p > 0.05). The results demonstrate that ALA-PDT is a safe and effective treatment for HPV infection combined with VaIN, with minimal side effects. Its therapeutic efficacy is not influenced by disease type, patient age group or HPV infection subtype.

Ring-fused chlorin-enhanced photodynamic therapy for effective cell death induction in endometrial cancer

The effectiveness of photodynamic therapy based on stable 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-fused chlorins (PX) was explored in endometrial cancer. In vitro, photocytotoxicity of three derivatives of ring-fused chlorins (dihydroxymethyl, dicarboxylic acid, and dimethyl ester moieties) was evaluated in three endometrial cancer cell lines, ECC-1, RL95-2, and HEC-1-A. A comprehensive assessment of chlorins-induced intracellular production of reactive oxygen species, viability and PDT-induced types of cell death, influence on the cell cycle, intracellular localisation, and the protein expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase after photodynamic treatment was carried out. The photodynamic effect of the dihydroxymethyl derivative was then evaluated in vivo by monitoring tumour volume and performing histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the tumours. The dihydroxymethyl and dicarboxylic acid derivatives were the most active photosensitisers, presenting IC