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Photodynamic Carcinogenicity and its Prevention by Carotenoids as Oxygen Radical Quenchers: Relevance in Animals and Human Intervention

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Photobiology

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Abstract

The problem of photodynamic action and carcinogenicity as reviewed and developed with various in vitro experimental models in 1960, led to the demonstration that photodynamic activit in vitro in various polycyclic hydrocarbons is strictly associated with in vivo carcinogenicity. Skin carcinogenesis induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in mice can be influenced by long UV radiation (300-400 nm), as well as daylight, with either dramatic enhancement or inhibition depending on total light dosage. Both phenomena were respectively interpreted as being caused by oxygen radical production compatible or otherwise with cellular life. Breast cancer induced by PUVA (8-methoxypsoralen + UVA light) in mice was interpreted as due to a two-step reaction, namely an oxygen-independent DNA-8-MOP photoadduct followed by generation of oxygen radicals and/or activated molecular oxygen (primarily102).

The above hypothesis relating to the mechanism of action of these photocarcinogeneses was experimentally first demonstrated in 1 by the fact that diet supplementation with carotenoids (beta-carotene or canthaxanthin dyes, with and without provitamin A activity, respectively) as antioxidants produces remarkable prevention (up to 65-100%) against skin cancer induced in mice by BP ± long UV. Subsequently, this prevention was also active against breast cancer induced in mice by PUVA, and against direct gastric carcinogenesis induced by nitrosoguanidine in rats independently of light, but facilitated by oxygen radicals likely generated by phlogistic processes. This opened up new horizons for chemoprevention in humans for any form of cancer where oxygen radicals are involved, even independently of light excitation.

The main experiments both in vitro and in vivo carried out over a period of more than thirty years which led to the above achievements are here reviewed including a first clinical case report of carotenoid supplementation against cancer recurrencies after radical treatment.

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  1. “C. Golgi” Institute of General Pathology Centro Tumori, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Leonida Santamaria

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  1. Leonida Santamaria
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  1. Israel Atomic Energy Commission, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Emanuel Riklis

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Santamaria, L. (1991). Photodynamic Carcinogenicity and its Prevention by Carotenoids as Oxygen Radical Quenchers: Relevance in Animals and Human Intervention. In: Riklis, E. (eds) Photobiology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3732-8_106

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