QUANTITATIVE in vivo MEASUREMENT OF THE FLUORESCENT COMPONENTS OF PHOTOFRIN II

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Abstract
Photofrin II which contains the most efficient components of hematoporphyrin derivative with regard to photodynamic therapy of cancer, was measured fluorometrically in tumor and tumor‐free tissuesin vivoover a period up to 8 days. Using time‐resolving (nanosecond and picosecond) microscopic techniques, the fluorescence of different components was quantitated and attributed to monomelic, dimeric, and possibly aggregated porphyrin species. The long‐lasting retention of the porphyrins in live tissues was in contrast to the rapid removal from cultured cells. This might be due to monomerization or dimerization of non‐fluorescent aggregates. Tumor‐selective accumulation was found to be similar for two different (probably monomeric and dimeric) components. This indicates that the integral fluorescence of these components may also correlate with the distribution of the main photosensitizing species.