Photodynamic therapy of intestinal tumors with mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6): a basic study.
BACKGROUND
To clarify the usefulness of the second-generation photosensitizer, mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6), we examined the possibility of photodynamic diagnosis and photodynamic therapy for intestinal tumors in a mouse model.


METHODS
NPe6 was intravenously administered to the tumor-bearing mice through the tail vein. The intestinal tumor sites were irradiated with a 664-nm diode laser at constant intervals after the administration of photosensitizers. The tumors were excised and fluorescence was observed in frozen sections by microscope.


RESULTS
We observed the fluorescent image and calculated that the mean fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in the tumors than the normal mucosa during 6 hours (p < 0.05). The fluorescence of NPe6 was chiefly accumulated in the intestinal tumors as red fluorescence on the fluorescent microphotographic image.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that NPe6 may be a valuable photosensitizer for the photodynamic diagnosis and photodynamic therapy of intestinal tumors.
Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo, Aoba, Sendai 980-8574, Japan. dr_tatsu@pg.highway.ne.jp
Tatsuya
T
Kikuchi
Tohru
T
Asakura
Hiroyuki
H
Aihara
Manabu
M
Shiraki
Sho
S
Takagi
Yoshitaka
Y
Kinouchi
Katsuo
K
Aizawa
Tooru
T
Shimosegawa
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007834:Lasers; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C053434:Talaporfin