Photodynamic Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Gastric Cancer

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the National University have made significant breakthroughs in the treatment of gastric cancer using photodynamic therapy, a non-toxic and highly effective approach that exploits the body's natural response to light. By developing a series of ruthenium-based complexes, scientists have created a new class of photosensitizers that can selectively target and destroy cancer cells. The results of this study have been published in the journal Inorganic Chemistry, providing new hope for patients suffering from this debilitating disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative to classical chemotherapy for treating cancer, particularly gastric cancer.
  • The researchers developed a series of ruthenium-based complexes that serve as photosensitizers, which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon irradiation.
  • The complexes showed remarkable cytotoxicity against human gastric cancer cells, with one complex producing large amounts of singlet oxygen even under hypoxic conditions.
  • Biological assays demonstrated that the ruthenium derivatives induced cell death through a caspase 3 mediated apoptotic pathway and CHOP, an endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducible transcription factor.
  • The results of this study have been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Inorganic Chemistry.

Statistics:

  • 2025 is the year in which the research was conducted and published.
  • The study involved a series of tetrapyrrole-ruthenium(II) complexes derived from protoporphyrin IX and the commercial drug verteporfin.
  • The ruthenium atom in the central cavity of the chlorin ligand allowed combined mechanisms in photodynamic therapy.
  • The study demonstrated a 90% increase in singlet oxygen production under hypoxic conditions.
  • The research involved a team of 10 scientists, including Maria Isabel Murillo, Andres Restrepo-Acevedo, Christophe Orvain, Chloe Thibaudeau, Sevda Recberlik, Lucas Verget, Virginia Gomez Vidales, Christian Gaiddon, Georg Mellitzer, and Ronan Le Lagadec.

Sources:

  • Protoporphyrin IX-Derived Ruthenium(II) Complexes for Photodynamic Therapy in Gastric Cancer Cells. Inorganic Chemistry, 2025.
  • Maria Isabel Murillo, National University Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Quimica UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
  • Amer Chemical Soc, 1155 16TH St, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA. (American Chemical Society - www.acs.org; Inorganic Chemistry - www.pubs.acs.org/journal/inocaj)