Cancer cell death induction mechanisms by second generation photosensitizers

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment modality that induces cell death facilitated by a photosensitizer (PS) that photochemically generates reactive oxygen species upon laser irradiation. Second generation PSs such as metallosulfophthalocyanines, currently investigated as potential photochemotherapeutic agents, show great potential. The identification of novel PSs has turned the focus of PDT research on the mechanism of cell death induced. Research presented in this paper focuses on the different techniques used to elucidate the mechanism of cell death induced in oesophageal cancer cells (SNO). Results appear to indicate necrosis as the major mechanism whereby cancer cell death is induced although contribution of apoptotic factors to facilitate this process is not excluded.