MATERIALS AND METHODS: T24 cells treated with various concentrations of mitomycin (MC), 5-ALA and an MC/5-ALA mixture were evaluated to determine the role of 5-ALA on MC cytotoxicity. Cell cycle analysis was conducted, and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Caspase 3 enzyme and reactive oxygen species were measured.
RESULTS: Our initial studies exploring the impact of combination therapy on cell viability demonstrated improved cytotoxic effects on T24 and RT cells with relatively low doses of 5-ALA/MC in conjunction with MC alone. Indicated no significant difference between the IC50 of MC and MC/5-ALA in T24 cells, while IC50 value was decreased by 25 % in RT4 cells in 5-ALA/MC in comparing with MC alone. However, examination of cell cycle phase arrests by flow cytometry revealed significant PreG1 apoptosis and cell growth arrest in G2/M in T24 cells treated with the MC/5-ALA mixture compared with MC treatment. In addition, caspase 3 enzyme was increased by 1.15-fold in T24 cells treated with MC/5-ALA in comparison with MC alone.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 5-ALA might possess anti-cancer properties and is not only a photo diagnostic element.
METHODS: A total of 131 consecutive patients exhibiting NMIBC at primary diagnosis were retrospectively investigated whether they had undergone any HAL-guided TURBT prior to RC. Uni- and multivariable analyses were used to evaluate the impact of HAL-TURBT on cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS). The median follow-up was 38 months (IQR 13-56).
RESULTS: Of the 131 patients, 69 (52.7%) were managed with HAL- and 62 (47.3%) with white light (WL)-TURBT only prior to RC. HAL-TURBT was associated with a higher number of TURBTs prior to RC (p = 0.002) and administration of intravesical chemotherapy (p = 0.043). A trend towards a higher rate of tumor-associated immune cell infiltrates in RC specimens (p = 0.07) and a lower utilization rate of post-operative systemic chemotherapy (p = 0.10) was noted for patients who were treated with HAL-TURBT. The 5-year CSS/OS was 90.9%/74.5% for the HAL-group and 73.8%/55.8% for the WL-group (p = 0.042/0.038). In multivariable analysis, lymph node tumor involvement (p = 0.007), positive surgical margins (p = 0.001) and performance of WL-TURBT only (p = 0.040) were independent predictors for cancer-specific death.
CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that the resection of NMIBC under HAL exerts a beneficial impact on outcomes of patients who will need to undergo RC during their course of disease. This finding may be due to improved risk stratification as the resection under HAL may allow more patients to be treated timely and adequately.
METHODS: A total of 74 patients with histologically proven HGGs treated between January 2008 and December 2014, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, were enrolled. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazard regression were used.
RESULTS: Significant longer survival time (months) was observed in the FG group compared with the conventional group (12 months versus 8 months, P < 0.020). Even without adjuvant therapy, HGG patients from FG group survived longer than those from the conventional group (8 months versus 3 months, P = 0.006). No significant differences were seen in postoperative Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) between the groups at 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery compared to pre-operative KPS. Cox proportional hazard regression identified four independent predictors of survival: KPS > 80 (P = 0.010), histology (P < 0.001), surgical method (P < 0.001) and adjuvant therapy (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: This study showed a significant clinical benefit for HGG patients in terms of overall survival using FG surgery as it did not result in worsening of post-operative function outcome when compared with the conventional surgical method. We advocate a further multicentered, randomised controlled trial to support these findings before FG surgery can be implemented as a standard surgical adjunct in local practice for the benefit of HGG patients.