Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains the second most common nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) worldwide. Both acitretin and 5-Aminolevulinic acid mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) have validated effect on SCC. However, the effects of both treatmens remain limited, and there has been no report concerning the potential synergistic effect of both treatments for SCC.
Objective:To investigate the cytotoxic effect of acitretin on SCL-1 cells, and whether ALA-PDT enhances this effect.
Methods:CCK-8 and trypan blue exclusion array were used to detect the cell cytotoxicity after acitretin treatment with different concentrations (1.6 × 10-4mg/mL, 1.6 × 10-3 mg/mL, 1.6 × 10-2mg/mL and 1.6 × 10-1mg/mL) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Flow cytometry and trypan blue exclusion assay were used to detect the apoptosis and viability of SCL-1 cells after treated with acitretin, ALA-PDT and ALA-PDT immediately followed by acitretin. Independent sample t test was used to analyze the different incubation time of acitretin and acitretin combined with ALA-PDT on SCL-1 cells. Bonferroni Test One-way Anova method was used to analyze the effect of different treatment on the SCL-1 cells.
Results:A significant cytotoxic effect was observed after acitretin treatment, in an acitretin concentration-dependent manner within the range of 1.6 × 10-4mg/mL to 1.6 × 10-1mg/mL and an acitretin incubation time-dependent manner within 24 h-72 h. The total apoptosis rate and dead cells rate in group of ALA-PDT combined with acitretin were both significantly higher than that of acitretin, ALA-PDT group. A stronger apoptotic and cytotoxic effect detected 24 h after treated with acitretin than that of 12 h was observed in this study.
Conclusion:Acitretin has a cytotoxic effect on SCL-1 cells, and ALA-PDT treatment enhances the the cytotoxic effect of acitretin.
