Influence of Hydrocortisone in Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy in HEp-2 Cells

Carlos Dailton Guedes de Oliveira Moraes, Bruno Henrique Godoi, Newton Soares da Silva and Cristina Pacheco-Soares

Dynamics of Cellular Compartments Laboratory, Research & Development Institute, Vale do Paraíba University, Brazil
Paulista State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Institute of Science and Technology - Campus of São José dos Campos, Department of Environmental Engineering.

^*Correspondance to: Cristina Pacheco Soares 

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Abstract:

Aim: Cancer cells exhibit resistance to the immune response by regulating and altering the expression of mediators responsible for immune cell recruitment and disease progression. Cortisol is a natural hormone that may be associated with diseases such as cancer by stimulating stress and altering the cellular environment, favoring uncontrolled division and contributing to the inhibition of the immune response. In contrast, current therapeutic strategies do not present significant concerns about stress as a variable in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The response of HEp-2 cells to stress induced by hydrocortisone and to treatment with Cyclophosphamide (CP) and Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) was analyzed.
Methods: One mM of hydrocortisone induced stress in the cells. Cells were treated with 200 μg/mL of cyclophosphamide or Aluminum Phthalocyanine Tetrasulfonate (AlPcS4) photosensitizer, LED irradiation (660 nm wavelength), intensity of 25 mW/cm2, power of 70 mW, fluence of 5 J/cm2, characterizing the PDT. All groups were evaluated after 24 h and 48 h.
Results: Assessment of stress-inducing mitochondrial activity and cell viability were performed, and the results demonstrated that hydrocortisone significantly altered the rate of cell death, compromising the effects of CP.
Conclusion: However, hydrocortisone did not change the cell death rates caused by PDT, indicating the possibility of this hormone as an alternative therapy.

Keywords:

Cancer; GRP78; Stress; MTT assay; Stress

Cite the Article:

de Oliveira Moraes CDG, Godoi BH, da Silva NS, Soares CP. Influence of Hydrocortisone in Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy in HEp-2 Cells. Clin Oncol. 2022;7:1956..