Alectinib treatment improves photodynamic therapy in cancer cell lines of different origin

Photodynamic therapy with a photosensitizer such as protoporphyrin-IX, a light sensitive metabolite of heme synthesis, is a highly selective treatment for various carcinomas. In previous studies, we found a significant down regulation of the relevant enzyme ferrochelatase in gastrointestinal carcinomas leading to an accumulation of protoporphyrin-IX within the tumor cells. Recent studies showed that a novel anti-cancer drug, Alectinib, an orally available, highly selective, potent second-generation inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma tyrosinkinase binds to ferrochelatase. Therefore, we were interested to see whether Alectinib treatment might lead to an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX.

The usage of Alectinib could be another step for enhancing the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy. Further experiments will show whether photodynamic therapy in combination with Alectinib could be a new strategy for the treatment of e.g. peritoneal disseminated carcinomas.

Tumor cells of different origin were cultured, treated with LED-light and Alectinib.

Here, we report that photodynamic treatment of tumor cell lines of different origin in combination with Alectinib increased protoporphyrin-IX specific fluorescence and concomitantly cell death. Conclusions: The usage of Alectinib could be another step for enhancing the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy. Further experiments will show whether photodynamic therapy in combination with Alectinib could be a new strategy for the treatment of e.g. peritoneal disseminated carcinomas.