Photodynamic therapy of murine colon cancer and melanoma using systemic aminolevulinic acid as a photosensitizer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Side effects of conventional photosensitizers, such as hematoporphyrins, are a limiting factor in the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT). We evaluated the effect of PDT on mice colon carcinoma and melanoma using systemic 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA).

METHODS:

IN VITRO STUDIES:

CT26 colon carcinoma and B16 melanoma cells were incubated with ALA for 48 h. Subsequently, cells were subjected to photoradiation at 40, 60 and 100 J/cm2 and viability was assessed. In vivo studies: Balb/C mice were injected subcutaneously with 2x10(5) CT26 colon cancer cells and C57/Bl mice were injected subcutaneously with 2x10(5) melanoma cells. ALA 60 mg/kg was injected intra-peritoneally when tumors were visible. After 24 h mice were subjected to photoradiation (100 J/cm2).

RESULTS:

IN VITRO STUDIES:

There was a significant decrease in the viability of treated cells as compared with non-treated tumor cells and with treated splenocytes (p<0.001). In vivo studies: PDT induced necrosis of both tumors. PDT also significantly prolonged the survival of the treated mice (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Photodynamic therapy using systemic ALA as a photosensitizer was effective in treating mice colon cancer and melanoma in both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Further pre-clinical and clinical studies are being conducted now.

• Authors: R Haddad, O Kaplan, R Greenberg, A Siegal, Y Skornick, H Kashtan
• Journal: International journal of surgical investigation (Int J Surg Investig) Vol. 2 Issue 3 Pg. 171-8 ( 2000) ISSN: 1028-5229 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 12678516 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Photosensitizing Agents
• Aminolevulinic Acid

Topics

• Aminolevulinic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Colonic Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Melanoma, Experimental (drug therapy, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Photochemotherapy
• Photosensitizing Agents (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Tumor Cells, Cultured