The efficiency of photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies on prostate cancer cell lines

This study aims to investigate the antitumor effects and possible mechanisms of methylene blue and pheophorbide a-mediated photodynamic, sonodynamic and sonophotodynamic therapies on prostate cancer cell lines in vitro. Sonodynamic and sonophotodynamic therapies are new noninvasiv methods and may occupy an important area in cancer therapy. Regarding this aim, cell viability was examined by MTT test, apoptotic morphological changes by hoechst/propidium iodide staining, the amount of the proteins in the apoptotic and Wnt signalling pathway by western blotting method and Wnt protein expression levels by RT-PCR method. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species levels and antioxidant changes after treatments in cells were investigated by using biochemical methods. According to the results, light or ultrasound application had no effect on cell viability compared to control, while treatments were found to reduce cell viability. Besides, there was a significant increase in the apoptotic cell populations in treatment groups compared with the control group. After photodynamic, sonodynamic and sonophotodynamic treatments, caspase-8, caspase-3, Parp and Bax protein levels were increased however caspase-9, and Bcl2 levels were decreased. Wnt protein gen expression levels also changed in treatment groups. Moreover, treatments led to an increase in ROS and MDA levels, but a decrease in GSH, CAT and SOD levels. In conclusion, it has been shown that sonodynamic, photodynamic and sonophotodynamic treatments have promising effects in the treatment of prostate cancer and these effects are associated with intracellular ROS induced apoptosis and could be releated with Wnt pathway.