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Original Articles

The effects of narrow-band middle infrared radiation in enhancing the antitumor activity of paclitaxel

, , &
Pages 106-114 | Received 07 Aug 2014, Accepted 16 Nov 2014, Published online: 26 Jun 2015
 

ABSTRACT

Paclitaxel is used as an adjuvant to enhance the effectiveness of ionization radiation therapy; however, high-energy radiation often damages the healthy cells surrounding cancer cells. Low-energy, middle-infrared radiation (MIR) has been shown to prevent tissue damage, and recent studies have begun combining MIR with paclitaxel. However, the cytotoxic effects of this treatment combination remain unclear, and the mechanism underlying its effects on HeLa cells has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effectiveness of treating HeLa human cervical cancer cells with a combination of paclitaxel for 48 h in conjunction with narrow-band MIR from 3.0 to 5.0 μm. This combined treatment significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells. Specifically, results from Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection and cell mitochondrial membrane potential analyses revealed an increase in apoptotic cell death and a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. One possible mechanism underlying cellular apoptosis is an increase in oxidative stress. These preliminary findings provide evidence to support the combination of narrow-band MIR with paclitaxel as an alternative approach in the treatment of human cervical cancer.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Technology Commons at National Taiwan University for instrumental support.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 102-2120-M-002-003).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 102-2120-M-002-003).

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