Efficacy of photodynamic therapy using hematoporphyrin derivative nanomedicine on hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) nanomedicine in combination with conventional chemotherapy based on gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. Methods: HPD nanomedicine was prepared, and the cytotoxicity of HPD nanomedicine at different concentrations on HCC cells and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) were analyzed. Sixty HCC patients who visited our hospital from 2021 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient data were analyzed, with 30 cases in control group (CG) receiving conventional chemotherapy for HCC, and 30 cases in observation group (OG) receiving conventional chemotherapy combined with HPD nanomedicine PDT. Gd-DTPA MRI was utilized to monitor the morphological and biological characteristics of the lesions in patients. After treatment completion, the long-term efficacy of patients and the levels of bcl-2 and bax proteins in primary HCC cells were evaluated. Results: The IC50 values of HPD on HepG2 cell proliferation and the cell inhibition rates gradually increased with increasing doses of HPD (50 mu M, 25 mu M, 12.5 mu M, 6.25 mu M, 3.13 mu M, 1.56 mu M, 0.78 mu M). HPD exhibited great anti-proliferative effects on HepG2 cells at relatively low concentrations. The differences in expression rates of bcl-2 protein and bax protein between groups were considerable (P<0.05). There were neglectable changes in AST and ALT levels between the two groups before treatment, but they were markedly reduced after treatment versus before treatment (P<0.05), with OG showing considerably lower levels than CG after treatment (P<0.05). Additionally, patients in OG exhibited better survival rates after the course of treatment versus those in CG. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the combination of conventional chemotherapy based on Gd-DTPA MRI with HPD nanomedicine PDT greatly improves the efficacy of treatment for HCC patients. This combined treatment strategy not only enhances therapeutic outcomes but also alleviates adverse reactions associated with conventional treatment, providing a novel approach for future research in the treatment of HCC.