Photodynamic Therapy and Nitric Oxide Modulation in Cancer Cells
Summary
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive anticancer modality that employs a light‐activated photosensitiser and molecular oxygen to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) within tumours. Upon illumination, the photosensitiser transfers energy to oxygen, forming singlet oxygen and free radicals that disrupt cellular membranes, organelles and vasculature, leading to tumour cell death. Nitric oxide (NO), a short‐lived free radical synthesised principally by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in malignant and stromal cells, exerts a multifaceted influence on PDT outcomes. Low‐level NO can antagonise photokilling by scavenging lipid radicals, activating pro‐survival signalling pathways and promoting the migration and invasion of surviving cells. Conversely, high NO flux may augment oxidative stress or enhance blood flow modulation to improve PDT efficacy. This dual role underscores the importance of understanding NO dynamics in the tumour microenvironment to refine treatment regimens. Strategies to inhibit iNOS transcription or activity, or to deploy exogenous NO donors in a controlled fashion, are under active investigation. The interplay between PDT‐induced immunity, vascular responses and NO signalling has broad clinical implications for skin, head and neck, glioblastoma and ocular malignancies, motivating combination therapies that target both oxidative and nitrosative stress to maximise tumour control while minimising off‐target effects.
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Photodynamic Therapy and Nitric Oxide Modulation in Cancer Cells publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in photodynamic therapy and nitric oxide modulation in cancer cells across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Photodynamic therapy (PDT): A treatment that uses light-activated photosensitisers and oxygen to produce cytotoxic reactive species in tumours.
Nitric oxide (NO): A short-lived free radical gas produced by nitric oxide synthases that modulates vascular tone, immune responses and cell survival.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS): An enzyme isoform upregulated in inflammatory or stressed cells, responsible for high-output NO production.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen, including singlet oxygen and free radicals, that inflict oxidative damage.
Bystander effect: Non-targeted cellular responses elicited in neighbouring cells by signals from directly treated cells.
References
- Understanding the Photodynamic Therapy Induced Bystander and Abscopal Effects: A Review. Antioxidants (2023).
- Pro-Tumor Activity of Endogenous Nitric Oxide in Anti-Tumor Photodynamic Therapy: Recently Recognized Bystander Effects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Increased PDT Efficacy When Associated with Nitroglycerin: A Study on Retinoblastoma Xenografted on Mice. Pharmaceuticals (2022).
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