title: A comparison of protoporphyrin IX and protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester as a photosensitizer in poorly differentiated human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
abstract: Protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (PME), a dimethyl esterification of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), exhibits higher intracellular uptake into NPC/CNE2 cells, a poorly differentiated human nasopharyngeal carcinoma, than does PpIX. Phototoxicity studies reveal PME to be a more potent photosensitizer than is PpIX, at the early and late incubation time points. Correlating phototoxicity with subcellular localization indicates that PME is a more potent photosensitizer when its primary target of photodamage is mitochondria. Also, additional targeting of lysosome enhances phototoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Karen Kar Lye
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Khee Chee
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Boon Huat
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivo
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C028025:protoporphyrin IX; C041104:dimethyl protoporphyrin IX