In vitro and in vivo evaluation of hypericin for photodynamic therapy of equine sarcoids.
The therapeutic potential of the photodynamic compound, hypericin, in the treatment of equine sarcoids was evaluated. The in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed using three equine cell lines and the observed phototoxic effect was comparable to that on different highly sensitive human cell lines and significantly influenced by the energy density used although independent of the cell type. The in vivo antitumoural action of photodynamic therapy using hypericin was evaluated on three equine sarcoids in a donkey. Four intratumoural injections were given and the tumours were illuminated daily during 25 days. An 81% reduction in tumour volume was obtained at the end of therapy and 2 months later, a 90% reduction was observed. Further experimental work should be performed, but these results suggest that photodynamic therapy using hypericin has a potential for the non-invasive treatment of equine sarcoids.
Martens
A
A
Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, 9820, Belgium.
de Moor
A
A
Waelkens
E
E
Merlevede
W
W
De Witte
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes; D002460:Cell Line; D018397:Equidae; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D010569:Perylene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000873:Anthracenes; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin