Inhibitory effect of aloe emodin mediated photodynamic therapy on human oral mucosa carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

We report a study on inhibition of human oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo, using novel photosensitizer (PS) aloe emodin (AE) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). Distinct morphology changes of oral mucosa carcinoma KB cells were observed under an optical microscope and cell migrations were inhibited owing to AE-PDT. The cell proliferation was blocked in G1 phase and the apoptosis increase were both caused by massive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from photoactivated AE. The upregulation of Caspase-3 and Bax protein levels and downregulation of Bcl-2 protein levels were observed after AE-PDT. The survival time of tumor mouse was prolonged without side effects ascribed to AE-PDT and its inhibitory effect on mice transplantation tumors was significant. It is indicated that AE mediated PDT is an innovative way to oral cancer treatment with the dominances of effectivity, minimal invasion, tissue integrity retention and none side effects on main organs.