Treating Cancer with Photodynamic Therapy Using Novel Molecules that Induce Apoptosis

SLU ID 17-039 | Photodynamic Therapeutics for Treating Cancer

Background

Currently, cancer treatment options include surgical procedures and the administration of drugs that affect cell signaling pathways, receptor-ligand interactions, etc. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently used to treat some types of cancers by using specific wavelengths of light to excite certain organic and inorganic compounds injected into the bloodstream so that they are absorbed by cancer cells. Photodynamic therapies often use chelated metals to produce oxygen radicals which then go on to make reactive oxygen species. Because of technical limitations, PDT is currently used only to treat tumors on or just beneath the skin or on the lining of internal organs or cavities.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have synthesized molecules that induce apoptosis in cancer cells upon UV-A excitation using a novel mechanism that is different from the radical oxygen produced by conventional photodynamic therapies.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Increasing the specificity of cancer treatments

• Increasing the efficacy of cancer treatments

• Minimizing the adverse side effects of cancer treatments

• Minimizing the cost of cancer treatments

• Increasing the types of cancers that can be treated with photodynamic therapy

Applications

This technology has potential application for treating a variety of cancer types.

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking partners to further develop and commercialize this technology.