Utilizing 808  nm laser for sensitizing of melanoma tumors to megavoltage radiation therapy

In this study, the therapeutic effect of 808  nm laser therapy was investigated on B16-F10 melanoma tumor growth and tumor-bearing mice survival time. In addition, as laser can destroy melanin as the main cause of melanoma radioresistance, the effect of laser administration to enhance radiation therapy efficacy at B16-F10 cancer cells was eva luated in vitro and in vivo. Laser therapy (1 W/cm2 × 4 min) could cause significant (P <  0.05) inhibition of melanoma tumors’ growth (~ 61%) and about three times increase of the tumor-bearing mice survival time in comparison with no-treatment group. In addition, the mice which were treated with 1 W/cm2 × 4 min laser administration plus 6 Gy megavoltage radiation therapy exhibited ~ 68% lesser tumors’ volume and 27 days increase of survival time in comparison with 6 Gy irradiated tumor-bearing mice. Also, significantly higher (P <  0.05) tumor necrosis percentage was observed at the histopathological slides of 1 W/cm2 × 4 min laser + RT treated mice tumors (57 ± 12%) in comparison with radiation therapy group (31 ± 10%). Therefore, not only laser therapy can inhibit melanoma tumors’ growth per se but also its combination with radiation therapy can cause a significant enhancement of radiation th erapy efficacy. The laser administration can be used as a radiosensitizing method for melanotic melanoma radiation therapy.
Source: Lasers in Medical Science - Category: Laser Surgery Source Type: research