Blassan P. George
Professor
Title: Dicoma anomala Methanol Extract Enhances Phthalocyanine mediated Photodynamic Therapy in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells
Biography
Biography: Blassan P. George
Abstract
Cancer is a medical disease in which certain body cells proliferate in uncontrolled manner with potential of invading distant body parts. Breast cancer is the type of cancer that originates from the breast tissue and globally it is regarded as the leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. In order to effectively eradicate cancer, therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) are administered in combination with other therapies. A dose-dependence anticancer effects (i.e., morphological changes, cell viability, and cell death mechanisms) of Dicoma anomala methanol extract (D. anomala) (IC50) and zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (ZnPcS4) mediated-PDT (IC50) on MCF-7 breast cancer cells were evaluated in this study. Morphological changes were observed in D. anomala and ZnPcS4 mediated PDT treated cells when compared to the control cells. Trypan blue cell viability assay displayed a significant decrease in cell population in D. anomala and ZnPcS4 mediated PDT treated cells. The Annexin V/propidium iodide assay displayed the apoptotic and necrotic activities in both D. anomala and ZnPcS4 mediated PDT treated cells as well as in combination therapy. In summary, this study highlighted the anticancer effects of D. anomala as a single chemotherapeutic drug and in combination with ZnPcS4 photosensitizer on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In conclusion, this study clearly suggests the use of D. anomala as an adjuvant or inducer to be used alone or applied along with other cancer therapies to enhance the treatment outcome.