Sulforaphene Enhances The Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy In Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Through Ras/RAF/MEK/ERK Pathway Suppression
Abstract
Sulforaphene (SFE), a natural isothiocyanate from cruciferous vegetables has shown a potential anticancer effect against cervical and lung cancer. Palliative treatments like photodynamic therapy (PDT) are being implemented for a long time however, the results are still not promising in case of aggressive cancers like anaplastic thyroid cancer. The objective of this work is to establish an alternative method with the combination of photofrin-PDT and sulforaphene, a natural isothiocyanate from cruciferous vegetables, against human anaplastic thyroid cancer to enhance the efficacy of PDT. In this study, cell viability of FRO cells due to combination treatment was analyzed by MTT assay, Cell cycle arrest, MMP depolarization and ROS generation, analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis of various proliferative proteins was performed to assess the activity of combination treatment against FRO cells. From the results, sulforaphene alone showed no cytotoxicity against normal cells, however, combination of sulforaphene and photofrin mediated PDT showed a noticeable decrease in cell proliferation against FRO cells. Combination treatment synergistically caused cell cycle arrest via ROS generation and MMP depolarization. The expressions of Ras, MEK, ERK, B-Raf proteins significantly modulated due to combination treatment. PDT and SFE can induce apoptosis in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells individually but while treated in combination, it enhanced the apoptotic and anti-proliferat…
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Sulforaphene works by arresting the cell cycle of cancer cells in the G0/G1 phase.
“It works by arresting the cell cycle of cancer cells in the G0/G1 phase.”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Treatment of anaplastic cancer cell lines with SFE before photophrin PS and LED exposure is associated with a reduction in cell viability greater than photophrin alone.
“Saswata Chatterjee and colleagues have shown that treatment of anaplastic cancer cell lines with SFE, before photophrin PS, and then exposing them to an LED diode is associated with a reduction in cell viability, greater than when using photophrin alone.”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Average survival of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer using current therapies is estimated at 4-6 months, with approximately 35% achieving 6-month survival.
“The average age of onset is 65-70 years, and the average survival of patients with ATC using currently used therapies is estimated at 4-6 months, with approximately 35% of patients achieving 6-month survival. [6,16,18].”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Combined therapy with a higher dose of photophrin (6.25 μg/ml vs. 1.5 μg/ml) resulted in a significantly higher number of apoptotic bodies and intensity of cell death.
“Cells subjected to combined therapy, especially with a higher dose of photophrin (6.25 μ g/ml vs. 1.5 μ g/ml) were characterized by a significantly higher number of apoptotic bodies and the intensity of cell death”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Combined therapy increased ROS production in cancer cells due to impaired mitochondrial potential.
“increased ROS production in cancer cells due to impaired mitochondrial potential”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Combined therapy inhibited activation of phosphorylated p38.
“and inhibited activation of phosphorylated p38.”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Combined therapy reduced expression of RAS, MEK (1/2) and ERK (1/2) proteins in cells with RAS mutations.
“reduced expression of RAS, MEK (1/2) and ERK (1/2) proteins in cells with RAS mutations”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
The changes were particularly marked in higher concentrations of the photosensitizer or in combination with sulforaphene, carboplatin, or genistein.
“The changes were particularly marked in higher concentrations of the photosensitizer or in combination with sulforaphene, carboplatin, or genistein.”
From Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
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Photodynamic Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
Inglot, J., Strzelczyk, J. K., Bartusik-Aebisher, D., & Aebisher, D. (2025) · BioMed · doi:10.3390/biomed5010008 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Chatterjee, S., Rhee, Y., Chung, P.-S., Ge, R.-F., & Ahn, J.-C.
- Affiliations
- Dankook University (KR)
- Dankook University Hospital (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Ahn, Jin-Chul
- Venue
- Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-02
- Volume
- 179
- Pages
- 46-53
- ISSN
- 1011-1344 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2774214721
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 2.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- MEST (2012K1A4A3053142)
- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
- Dankook University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
- Keywords
- sulforaphene, photodynamic therapy, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, Photofrin, RAS/MAPK pathway, isothiocyanates, combination therapy, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial depolarization, synergistic cytotoxicity
- MeSH terms
- Cell Survival, Humans, Photochemotherapy, Thyroid Neoplasms, Signal Transduction, Photosensitizing Agents, Dihematoporphyrin Ether, Reactive Oxygen Species, Isothiocyanates, ras Proteins, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases, Cell Line, Tumor, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases, raf Kinases, Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic
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