Comparative photodynamic therapy study using two phthalocyanine derivatives

Abstract

In the present study, a comparative photodynamic therapy (PDT) study was performed using the phthalocyanine derivatives, ZnPc(OCH3)4 and ZnPc(CF3)4, in a mouse tumor model, under identical experimental procedures. We studied the ablation of tumors induced by PDT. The end-point was to compare the photodynamic efficacy of ZnPc(OCH3)4 and ZnPc(CF3)4. ZnPc(OCH3)4 and ZnPc(CF3)4 were administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg body weight. The injections of drugs were carried out in Balb/c mice bearing subcutaneously inoculated LM2 mouse mammary adenocarcinoma. Histological examination and serum biochemical parameters were used to evaluate hepatic and renal toxicity and function. Phototherapeutic studies were achieved employing a light intensity of 210 J/cm2. After PDT, tumoral regression analyses were carried out, and the degree of tumor cell death was measured utilizing the vital stain Evan's blue. In this pilot study, we revealed that the cytotoxic effect of ZnPc(OCH3)4 after PDT led to a higher success rate compared to ZnPc(CF3)4-PDT when both were intraperitoneally injectioned. Both phthalocynanine derivatives were able to induce ablation in the tumors. In summary, these results demonstrate the feasibility of ZnPc(OCH3)4- or ZnPc(CF3)4-PDT and its potential as a treatment for small tumors.