Metformin and oxyphotodynamic therapy as a novel treatment approach for triple-negative breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant challenge due to a lack of targeted therapies. While photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been utilized as a treatment approach for several types of cancer, oxyphotodynamic therapy (OPDT) is a novel method that improves treatment efficacy by increasing local oxygen concentration. Metformin (MET) has been demonstrated utility as an anti-tumor agent by acting through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. We hypothesized that MET in combination with heme, a byproduct of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), may increase cytotoxicity for cancer treatment. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of MET and ALA with PDT or OPDT on TNBC tumorigenic cells.

Methods

The t

SUBMITTER: Pei X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7576064 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature