Photodynamic Therapy with Hexa(sulfo-n-butyl)[60]Fullerene Against Sarcoma In Vitro and In Vivo.

The hydrophilic molecular micellar hexa(sulfo-n-butyl)[60]fullerene (FC4S), first synthesized in 1998 as a photosensitizer (PS) has been reported to exhibit high efficacy for singlet oxygen generation and antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of photoactivated FC4S for free radical generation and to mediate photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that following light irradiation, FC4S produced singlet oxygen, but after addition of electron donors such as ferrocytochrome c or NADH, FC4S also produced superoxide. The combination of FC4S with light irradiation was able to induce cytotoxicity to human fibrosarcoma cells and murine sarcoma 180 cells in vitro. Cell-killing was proportional to fluence as well as FC4S concentration. Photoirradiation by argon-ion laser after intraperitoneal injection of FC4S also resulted in inhibition of S180 tumor growth in vivo (up to 80% reduction of tumor volume). Hematological and blood biochemistry parameters of the cancer-bearing mice were improved by PDT. Based on these findings, we conclude that FC4S has a great potential as a nanomedicine in PDT for cancer.

Phase II Randomized Trial of Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to Prevent Radiation-Induced Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Current evidence indicates that acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) can provide sustained benefit for established radiation-induced xerostomia (RIX) symptoms. This is further being evaluated by comparing it with standard treatment (pilocarpine) in a randomized controlled trial. This report studies the potential effectiveness of xerostomia prevention using ALTENS delivered concomitantly with radiotherapy administered to head and neck cancer patients. Sixty patients were randomized to either the treatment group (n = 30) that received ALTENS daily with radiotherapy or the control group (n = 26) that had standard mouth care only. Stimulated and basal unstimulated whole saliva production (WSP) plus RIX symptoms visual analogue score (RIXVAS) were assessed at specific time points. Generalized linear models and generalized estimating equations were used for analysis. RIXVAS at 3 months follow-up after therapy completion was used as the primary study endpoint. The mean RIXVAS for the ALTENS intervention at 3 months was 39.8, which was not significantly different from the control arm value of 40.5. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for their mean RIXVAS and WSP at all assessment time points. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in mean WSP and RIXVAS between the two groups, so ALTENS is not recommended as a prophylactic intervention.