Water-soluble porphyrin-mediated enhanced photodynamic and chemotherapy employing doxorubicin for breast cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer globally and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Current treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery, often have side effects and can lead to drug resistance. Developing new treatments that specifically target cancer cells while minimizing side effects is essential. Combining traditional cancer treatments with photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach. This study evaluated the effectiveness of femtosecond laser-driven PDT using Doxorubicin (DOX) and tetrakis (1-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TMPyP), both individually and in combination, on MDA-MB-231 and T47D breast cancer cells. TMPyP-PDT and DOX monotherapy both exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity. However, combination therapy was more effective at lower DOX concentrations, potentially reducing side effects. This combination also increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, inhibited angiogenesis by reducing TGF-β and VEGFA expression, and induced apoptosis by decreasing BCL-2 and increasing BAX levels compared to individual treatments. These findings suggest that combining TMPyP-mediated PDT with Doxorubicin could effectively inhibit breast cancer cell growth.