COMPONENTS OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVES AND THEIR TUMOR-LOCALIZING CAPACITY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (5) , 1703-1706
Abstract
Hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), a complex mixture of porphyrins derived from hematoporphyrin, is used for localization and photoradiation therapy of tumors. HPD and its component porphyrins were characterized by reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography. Uptake of major HPD components by mouse leukemia L1210 cells in vitro and by the mouse sarcoma 180 tumor in vivo were also examined. These data suggest that the apparent photosensitization of intact cells mediated by hematoporphyrin was associated with the uptake of more hydrophobic porphyrins present as impurities. In the sarcoma 180 tumor, the fluorescent porphyrin persisting for 2 days in vivo after HPD administration migrated with hematoporphyrin in a reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography system. Hematoporphyrin may be unable to cross the cell membrane readily in either direction. Long-persisting fluorescence resulting from exposure of tumor tissues to HPD may result from transformation of a membrane-permeable HPD component to hematoporphyrin.