Anti-angiogenic effects of Hypericin-photodynamic therapy in combination with Celebrex® in the treatment of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Karen Kar Lye Yee
    • Khee Chee Soo
    • Malini Olivo
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 1, 2005     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.16.6.993
  • Pages: 993-1002
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Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is being investigated as an alternative treatment modality in cancer treatment. It has been shown to induce tumor hypoxia and upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The objective of this study was to improve in vivo tumor growth control of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), treated at a subcurative dosage by using a combination of Hypericin-PDT and COX-2 inhibitor, Celebrex® (CX). The effect of an initial CX dose at 6- and 24-h post-PDT was investigated simultaneously. It was observed that hypoxic NPC/CNE2 cells upregulate both COX-2 and VEGF A genes in vitro. In vivo studies, down-regulation of COX-2 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) genes at 24-h post-PDT and bulk tumor ablation at 48-h post-PDT was observed. However, 24-28 days later regrowth was observed. In a combination treatment, 1st CX dose at 6-h post-PDT had the highest tumor control in which tumors were ≤0.52 cm3 (64.29%, P<0.05). However, the tumors administered with a initial dose of CX at 24-h post-PDT had no tumor control. Co-suppression of COX-2, HIF-1α and VEGF A genes were observed in tumors with tumor control. Mice without tumor control that were subjected to therapy had increased human VEGF in serum compared to Hypericin-PDT mice. Thus, suggesting that the time of initial administration of CX post-PDT is an important factor for effective tumor control.

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December 2005
Volume 16 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Yee KK, Soo KC and Olivo M: Anti-angiogenic effects of Hypericin-photodynamic therapy in combination with Celebrex® in the treatment of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Mol Med 16: 993-1002, 2005
APA
Yee, K.K., Soo, K.C., & Olivo, M. (2005). Anti-angiogenic effects of Hypericin-photodynamic therapy in combination with Celebrex® in the treatment of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 16, 993-1002. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.16.6.993
MLA
Yee, K. K., Soo, K. C., Olivo, M."Anti-angiogenic effects of Hypericin-photodynamic therapy in combination with Celebrex® in the treatment of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 16.6 (2005): 993-1002.
Chicago
Yee, K. K., Soo, K. C., Olivo, M."Anti-angiogenic effects of Hypericin-photodynamic therapy in combination with Celebrex® in the treatment of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 16, no. 6 (2005): 993-1002. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.16.6.993