Photoprocesses of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib: from femtoseconds to microseconds and from solution to cells.

ABSTRACT: Gefitinib (GFT) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor currently used for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Although it has been suggested that GFT can be phototoxic, there are no systematic studies on this issue. Here, the photosensitizing potential of GFT has been assessed by means of NRU assays and protein photooxidation. In addition, a thorough photophysical study is presented based on ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence and laser flash photolysis. Transient species generated after excitation of GFT have been characterized in solution and in biological environments (i.e. HSA and HaCaT cells) to gain insight into the mechanisms involved in photodamage. The photobehavior of GFT was strongly medium-dependent. Excitation of the drug resulted in th

SUBMITTER: Tamarit L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8457384 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature