TY - JOUR T1 - Photodynamic Therapy Potentiates the Effects of Curcumin on Pediatric Epithelial Liver Tumor Cells JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 3363 LP - 3372 VL - 36 IS - 7 AU - VERENA ELLERKAMP AU - NICOLA BORTEL AU - EVI SCHMID AU - BETTINA KIRCHNER AU - SORIN ARMEANU-EBINGER AU - JÖRG FUCHS Y1 - 2016/07/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/36/7/3363.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: Curcumin (CUM) is a promising agent in complementary oncology. The present study analyzed the photoactive properties of curcumin on pediatric epithelial liver tumor cell lines. Materials and Methods: Hepatoblastoma cell lines (HuH6, HepT1) and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2, HC-AFW1) were treated with curcumin and exposed to blue light (phototherapy, 480 nm, 300 W). Cell viability (MTT tests), cellular oxidative stress (production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)) and cellular uptake/degradation of curcumin were analyzed. Results: Significant loss of viability resulted from 24-48 h incubation with curcumin. With photodynamic therapy (PDT), even short time incubation (1 h) with curcumin resulted in significantly lower half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) (p<0.001, two-way ANOVA). Significant ROS production was observed with PDT and curcumin. Conclusion: Phototherapy strongly enhances the anticancer properties of curcumin in pediatric solid liver tumors in vitro. ER -