Enhancing the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy by a Chinese Herbal Medicine for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Juan Ma, Minhu Chen, Yun Dai and Liang Qiao

volume 5 | issue 9

september 2006
Pages: 1117 - 1119

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Commentary to:

Pheophorbide a, An Active Compound Isolated from Scutellaria barbata, Possesses Photodynamic Activities by Inducing Apoptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang, Judy Yuet-Wa Chan, Shannon Wing-Ngor Au, Siu-Kai Kong, Stephen Kwok-Wing Tsui, Mary Mui-Yee Waye, Thomas Chung-Wai Mak, Wing-Ping Fong and Kwok-Pui Fung

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks the sixth among the most common malignancies, with chronic HBV infection being the most common cause. HCC is more common in Africa, China and south-east Asia, but its incidence in the USA, Canada and Australia is rising. Current treatment modalities for HCC are not effective, and only a small percentage of patients are suitable for surgical resection and liver transplantation. Thus other treatment options and improvement of available modalities are badly in need. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may have some therapeutic benefit for patients with HCC. The study by Tang et al has implicated that coupled with Pheophorbide a (Pa), PDT may offer therapeutic benefit for patients with HCC. Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by Pa may be mechanistically responsible for Pa-PDT. As Pa is an extract from a Chinese herbal medicine Scutellaria Barbata, which is widely available, less toxic and less expensive, such a combination may find a better clinical usage in the treatment of HCC patients. More studies are mandatory to fully elucidate the efficacy and mechanisms of Pa-mediated PDT.

Authors

Juan Ma

, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong

Minhu Chen

The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

Yun Dai

Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong

Liang Qiao