The Impact and Mechanism of Apoptosis Antagonizing Transcription Factor (AATF) on Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy in Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), prevalent in China, resists conventional therapies. While hematoporphyrin-based photodynamic therapy (HpD-PDT) shows efficacy, tumor cells may evade treatment via stress-response pathways mediated by AATF, an unexplored resistance mechanism in ESCC. 1.Analyzed public datasets to assess AATF’s prognostic value. 2. Measured AATF expression via qRT-PCR/Western blot post-HpD-PDT. 3. Evaluated AATF-knockdown effects on cell viability (CCK-8), apoptosis (flow cytometry), and ROS (DCFH-DA probe). 4. Investigated AATF’s mechanism via catalase (CAT) regulation. 1.AATF was overexpressed in EC and linked to poor survival. 2. HpD-PDT upregulated AATF. 3. AATF knockdown enhanced PDT efficacy by increasing ROS and apoptosis. 4. AATF regulated ROS via CAT suppression. AATF confers resistance to HpD-PDT in EC by modulating CAT-mediated ROS scavenging, suggesting its targeting could improve therapeutic outcomes.