Photodynamic therapy of human ovarian epithelial carcinoma, OVCAR-3, heterotransplanted in the nude mouse.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to develop an animal model for the study of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of human ovarian epithelial carcinoma.


METHODS
The human ovarian carcinoma OVCAR-3 was heterotransplanted into nude, athymic mice and treated with photodynamic therapy consisting of the hematoporphyrin derivative Photofrin II 10 ng/kg and argon-pumped dye laser light at 630 nm (200 J/cm2). Growth of tumors on one side of seven mice (treated tumors, n = 7) was compared with contralateral tumors (control tumors, n = 8) not exposed to laser. Hematoporphyrin derivative uptake was determined in tumor and other tissues.


RESULTS
Photodynamically treated tumors were completely ablated, and all remained absent. Hematoporphyrin derivative uptake was nonselective for tumor compared with other tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
This model provides reproducible parameters for the study of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies and demonstrates the need for methods to increase selective uptake of hematoporphyrin derivatives.
Peterson
C M
CM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.
Reed
R
R
Jolles
C J
CJ
Jones
K P
KP
Straight
R C
RC
Poulson
A M
AM
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome