THE EFFECT OF LASER IRRADIATION ON THE VIABILITY OF HUMAN BREAST CANCER CELL, MDA-MB-231

Abstract

This study compared the effects of different sources of laser phototherapy on the cell viability of the in vitro human breast cancer cell lines. Laser phototherapy is used in the breast cancer clinical treatment, despite the limited safety information of laser irradiation effect on the cancer cell behavior. This study contributed on the development of guidelines for safer laser usage in treating breast cancer and minimising the possibility of activating postmastectomy lymphedema. Cancer cell viability and morphology were studied in this research. Human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines were cultured for 24 hours in CO2 incubator and irradiated with different laser sources and number of pulse. The viability of cancer cells were assessed by MTT assay 24 hours after laser irradiation. The result showed that MDA-MB-231 cell viability increased after being irradiated by excimer 248 nm laser. However, the cancer cell viability slightly decreased after irradiation by both Nd:YAG 1064 and 532 nm. Although certain doses of laser may affect the MDA-MB-231 cell viability, additional laser exposures had nearly no effect. The research shows that Nd:YAG 1064 nm more effective in lowering cancer cell survivability than 532 nm and 248 nm. Further in vivo studies are needed for better understanding on the mechanism of laser-tissue interaction and improve the laser usage safety in photothermal therapy.