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The production technology for nanoparticles based on a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids (PLGA) containing dipropoxybacteriopurpurinimide (DPBPI) and intended for photodynamic therapy of malignant neoplasms of various etiology is optimized. An approach to reducing the average diameter of the resulting nanoparticles is proposed. The obtained DPBPI-PLGA nanoparticles had average diameter 142.3 ± 2.7 nm; ξ-potential 17.1 ± 3.42 mV; polydispersity index 0.095; and total DPBPI content in DPBPI-PLGA particles 17.4 mg/g. DPBPI-PLGA nanoparticles were produced for biological tests. The intracellular distribution of DPBPI in DPBPI-PLGA nanoparticles was studied in in vitro experiments on A549 cells. DPBPI accumulation kinetics in and elimination kinetics from the cells were also studied. DPBPI-PLGA showed high photoinduced cytotoxicity in in vitro experiments. DPBPI-PLGA nanoparticles exhibited antitumor activity in in vivo experiments in an S37 murine soft tissue sarcoma model.

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are new-generation photoluminescent nanomaterials gaining considerable recognition in the life sciences due to their unique optical properties that allow high-contrast imaging in cells and tissues. Upconversion nanoparticle applications in optical diagnosis, bioassays, therapeutics, photodynamic therapy, drug delivery, and light-controlled release of drugs are promising, demanding a comprehensive systematic study of their pharmacological properties. We report on production of biofunctional UCNP-based nanocomplexes suitable for optical microscopy and imaging of HER2-positive cells and tumors, as well as on the comprehensive evaluation of their pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicological properties using cells and laboratory animals. The nanocomplexes represent a UCNP core/shell structure of the NaYF4:Yb, Er, Tm/NaYF4 composition coated with an amphiphilic alternating copolymer of maleic anhydride with 1-octadecene (PMAO) and conjugated to the Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin 9_29) with high affinity to the HER2 receptor. We demonstrated the specific binding of UCNP-PMAO-DARPin to HER2-positive cancer cells in cultures and xenograft animal models allowing the tumor visualization for at least 24 h. An exhaustive study of the general and specific toxicity of UCNP-PMAO-DARPin including the evaluation of their allergenic, immunotoxic, and reprotoxic properties was carried out. The obtained experimental body of evidence leads to a conclusion that UCNP-PMAO and UCNP-PMAO-DARPin are functional, noncytotoxic, biocompatible, and safe for imaging applications in cells, small animals, and prospective clinical applications of image-guided surgery.

Prostate cancer is an extremely common cancer among older men. Conventional chemotherapy has proven to be not effective enough in battling it due to its high systemic toxicity and low selectivity. An alternative method of cancer treatment known as photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to be effective. It is not without its faults either: one of the issues it’s been known to have is the insufficient selectivity of photosensitizer accumulation in tumor tissues. Recent studies, however, seem to indicate that introducing a PSMA-targeted moiety into photosensitizer might prove to be a solution to this problem. The present paper is concerned with synthesis of PSMA-targeted 131- and 152-substituted chlorin e6 conjugates and their biological characteristics. Our data suggests that the developed conjugates show potential as targeted agents for photodynamic therapy.

A comparative experimental study of the specific activity of drugs based on 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and its hexyl ester (5-ALA HE) was carried out. Their ability to induce the synthesis of photoactive protoporphyrin IX in the healthy tissues of the rabbit bladder when instilling the drug solutions at various concentrations has been estimated. It was shown that 5-ALA HE results in the induction and accumulation of PPIX in the rabbit bladder epithelium at much lower concentrations than 5-ALA. Thus, a significant increase in the fluorescence intensity in comparison with the control was achieved by instillation of 5-ALA HE solution in the rabbit’ bladder at a concentration of only 0.0001% (fluorescence intensity 2.20±0.60 a.u.), and for 5-ALA – only when using a solution at a concentration of 0.3% (fluorescence intensity 2.60±1.02 a.u.).

Primary screening of photosensitizers of the bacteriochlorin series containing aminoamide, propyl, and carbohydrate substituents was carried out; it included an assessment of spectral characteristics of these compounds, their storage stability in solution under darkened conditions and light exposure, and the study of photoinduced activity and cytotoxicity on tumor of HEp2 cells. According to the results of absorption and fluorescence analyzes, dyes with aminoamide substituents had a maximum at 754 ± 2 nm, are not stable during storage (fluorescence intensity decreased by 33–56% during a day); compounds with propyl and carbohydrate substituents absorbed in the region of 780–831 nm were characterized by stability during storage and irradiation. All PS except the dye with the carbohydrate residue in the exocycle E, exhibited photoinduced activity and lack of dark toxicity. The highest photoactivity was detected in compounds with aminoamide fragments in the macrocyclic ring (during 2 h-incubation the IC50 ranged from 17 nM to 49 nM). Taking into consideration physicochemical and biological properties, as well as technology of production and stability during storage and irradiation, O-propyloxime-N-propoxybacteriopurinimide methyl ester was chosen for further research aimed at creating a new PS generation for photodynamic therapy of malignant tumors.

This paper presents a primary screening of bacteriochlorin-type compounds with aminoamide, propyl and carbohydrate substituents aimed for development a new generation photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic therapy of malignant tumors. Absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics of the compounds, their storage stability in solutions under dark conditions and light exposure, photo-induced and dark cytotoxicity against human HEp2 tumor cells have been studied. It has been shown that the dyes with aminoamide substituents have an absorbtion maximum at 754±2 nm in the long wavelength region and they are not stable during storage (the specific fluorescence intensity decreased by 33-56% during 24 hours). The long wavelength region absorption of the propyl and carbohydrate substituted compounds varied in the range 780-831 nm, they were stable in solutions during storage and under light irradiation. Except the dye with a carbohydrate residue in the exocycle E, all PS exhibited the high photo-induced activity and low level of the dark cytotoxicity. The highest photo-induced cytotoxicity was observed for compounds with aminoamide substituents inthe macrocyclic ring (IC 50 values ranged from 17 nM to49 nM after 2 hour incubation with PS followed by exposure to the 10 J/cm 2 dose of red light). Taking into account the totality of the physico-chemical and biological properties, as well as manufacturability of production, O-propyloxime-N-propoxybacteriopurinimide methyl ester was chosen as the most promising candidate compound for further investigations.Proveden pervichnyĭ skrining substantsiĭ-fotosensibilizatorov (FS) bakteriokhlorinovogo riada s aminoamidnymi, propil'nym i uglevodnymi zamestiteliami; on vkliuchal otsenku spektral'nykh kharakteristik dannykh soedineniĭ, ikh ustoĭchivost' pri khranenii v rastvore v zatemnennykh usloviiakh i pri svetovom vozdeĭstvii, a takzhe izuchenie fotoindutsirovannoĭ aktivnosti i tsitotoksichnosti na opukholevykh kletkakh NEr2. Po rezul'tatam absorbtsionnogo i fluorestsentnogo analizov krasiteli s aminoamidnymi zamestiteliami imeiut maksimum pri 754±2 nm, ne stabil'ny pri khranenii (v techenie sutok otmechali snizhenie intensivnosti fluorestsentsii na 33-56%); soedineniia s propil'nym i uglevodnymi zamestiteliami pogloshchaiut v oblasti 780-831 nm i kharakterizuiutsia stabil'nost'iu pri khranenii i obluchenii. Vse FS, krome krasitelia s uglevodnym ostatkom v ékzotsikle E, obladaiut fotoindutsirovannoĭ aktivnost'iu pri otsutstvii temnovoĭ toksichnosti. Naibolee vysokaia fotoaktivnost' zaregistrirovana u soedineniĭ s aminoamidnymi fragmentami v makrotsiklicheskom kol'tse (pri 2-kh chasovoĭ inkubatsii IC 50 sostavliala ot 17 nM do 49 nM). Uchityvaia sovokupnost' fiziko-khimicheskikh i biologicheskikh svoĭstv, a takzhe tekhnologichnost' polucheniia i stabil'nost' pri khranenii i obluchenii, dlia dal'neĭshikh issledovaniĭ s tsel'iu sozdaniia fotosensibilizatora novogo pokoleniia dlia fotodinamicheskoĭ terapii zlokachestvennykh novoobrazovaniĭ vybran metilovyĭ éfir O-propiloksim-N-propoksibakteriopurpurinimida.

Purpose Modular nanotransporters (MNTs) are a polyfunctional platform designed to achieve receptor-specific delivery of short-range therapeutics into the cell nucleus by receptor-mediated endocytosis, endosome escape, and targeted nuclear transport. This study evaluated the potential utility of the MNT platform in tandem with Auger electron emitting 111In for cancer therapy. Methods Three MNTs developed to target either melanocortin receptor-1 (MC1R), folate receptor (FR), or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that are overexpressed on cancer cells were modified with p-SCN-Bn-NOTA and then labeled with 111In in high specific activity. Cytotoxicity of the 111In-labeled MNTs was evaluated on cancer cell lines bearing the appropriate receptor target (FR: HeLa, SK-OV-3; EGFR: A431, U87MG.wtEGFR; and MC1R: B16-F1). In vivo micro-single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography imaging and antitumor efficacy studies were performed with intratumoral injection of MC1R-targeted 111In-labeled MNT in B16-F1 melanoma tumor-bearing mice. Results The three NOTA-MNT conjugates were labeled with a specific activity of 2.7 GBq/mg with nearly 100% yield, allowing use without subsequent purification. The cytotoxicity of 111In delivered by these MNTs was greatly enhanced on receptor-expressing cancer cells compared with 111In nontargeted control. In mice with B16-F1 tumors, prolonged retention of 111In by serial imaging and significant tumor growth delay (82% growth inhibition) were found. Conclusion The specific in vitro cytotoxicity, prolonged tumor retention, and therapeutic efficacy of MC1R-targeted 111In-NOTA-MNT suggest that this Auger electron emitting conjugate warrants further evaluation as a locally delivered radiotherapeutic, such as for ocular melanoma brachytherapy. Moreover, the high cytotoxicity observed with FR- and EGFR-targeted 111In-NOTA-MNT suggests further applications of the MNT delivery strategy should be explored.

In this study, we evaluated the antitumor activity of a gene therapy complex in which the tumor-specific control of the expression of the effector suicide gene FCU1 was performed using a two-vector system based on the site-specific Cre-LoxP recombinase system. The complex of interest showed a high therapeutic potential in a mouse colon adenocarcinoma model.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most commonly occurring cancer in men. Conventional chemotherapy has wide variety of disadvantages such as high systemic toxicity and low selectivity. Targeted drug delivery is a promising approach to decrease side effects of therapy. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in prostate cancer cells while low level of expression is observed in normal cells. In this study we describe the development of Glu-urea-Lys based PSMA-targeting conjugates with paclitaxel. A series of new PSMA targeting conjugates with paclitaxel was designed and synthesized. The cytotoxicity of conjugates was evaluated against prostate (LNCaP, 22Rv1 and PC-3) and non-prostate (Hek293T, VA13, A549 and MCF-7) cell lines. The most promising conjugate 21 was examined in vivo using 22Rv1 xenograft mice model. It demonstrated good efficiency comparable with paclitaxel, while reduced toxicity. 3D molecular docking study was also performed to understand underlying mechanism of binding and further optimization of the linker substructure and conjugates structure for improving the target affinity. These conjugates may be useful for further design of novel PSMA targeting delivery systems for PC.

Antitumor efficacy of the combined suicide gene therapy and radiotherapy was studied on the model of CT26 murine colon adenocarcinoma. CMV-FCU1-IRES-mGM-CSF-pGL3 construct with PEG-PEI-TAT (FCU1-mGM/5-FC) block copolymer as a vector was used for intratumoral administration. Tumors were irradiated with a single 5 Gy dose. The efficacy was evaluated according to the grade of tumor growth inhibition (T/C) and lifespan of the animals. Pronounced antitumor activity of the combined use of FCU1-mGM/5-FC system with radiotherapy on the background of prolonged lifespan and the synergism of the applied methods was revealed.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising technique for cancer treatment, however, low tissue permeability for irradiating light and insufficient photosensitizer (PS) accumulation in tumors limit its clinical potential. Nanoparticles are engineered to improve selective drug delivery to tumor sites, but its accumulation is highly variable between tumors and patients. Identifying PS accumulation peak in a personalized manner is crucial for therapeutic outcome. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) provide opportunity for tracking drug accumulation in dynamics using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of the study was to evaluate MNP loaded with PS as a theranostic tool for treating cancer in mice xenograft colon cancer models. Methods: MNPs coated with human serum albumin (HSA) were loaded with bacteriochlorine a. MRI, atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) and fluorescent imaging were used to study MNP and drug accumulation rates and dynamics in CT26 tumors. Tumor growth curves were evaluated in animals that received PDT at different time points upon MNP systemic injection. Results: Peak MNP accumulation in tumors was detected by MRI 60 min post injection (pi) and the data were verified by AES and fluorescent imaging. Up to 17% of injected dose/g of tissue was delivered to malignant tissues 24 h after injection. Consistent with MRI predicted drug accumulation peak PDT performed 60 min after intravenous injection was more efficient in inhibiting tumor growth than treatment scheduled 30 min and 240 min pi. Conclusions: PS loading on HAS-coated MNPs is a perspective approach to increase drug delivery to tumor site. Tracking for MNP accumulation by MRI can be used to predict drug concentration peak in tumors and to adjust PDT time scheduling for improved antitumor response.

Hypothesis Hydrophobic bacteriochlorin based photosensitizer (PS) can be effectively immobilized on MNP covered by human serum albumin (HSA). PS loading into MNP protein shell allows solubilizing PS in water solution without altering its photodynamic activity. MNP@PS can serve as diagnostic tool for tracking PS delivery to tumor tissues by MRI. Experiments Immobilization on MNP-HSA-PEG was performed by adding PS solution in organic solvents with further purification. MNP@PS were characterized by DLS, HAADF STEM and AFM. Absorbance and fluorescence measurements were used to assess PS photophysical properties before and after immobilization. MNP@PS internalization into CT26 cells was investigated by confocal microscopy in vitro and MRI/IVIS were used for tracking MNP@PS delivery to tumors in vivo. Findings MNP@PS complexes were stable in water solution and retained PS photophysical activity. The length of side chain affected MNP@PS size, loading capacity and cell internalization. In vitro testing demonstrated MNP@PS delivery to cancer cells followed by photoinduced toxicity. In vivo studies confirmed that as-synthetized complexes can be used for MRI tracking over drug accumulation in tumors.

Photodynamic therapy and fluorescence diagnosis of malignant tumors have been actively developed over the last 15 years by the scientists participating in the Moscow Government-funded “Fight against Cancer” program. New effective photosensitizers absorbing in the long-wave spectral region were revealed. Unique agents Alasens-lio, Alasens-gel, Hexasens-lio, Phthalosens-lio, Holosens-lio, and Holosensgel were produced and preclinically studied both in vitro and in vivo. New methods using low-intensity and pulse modes of irradiation and also combined methods of treatment by photodynamic therapy and well-known chemotherapy or laser hyperthermia were developed. Methodological recommendations for experimental studies of agents with photoinduced antitumor properties were published.

Novel hybrid molecule containing 2-mercaptoethylamine was synthesized starting from O-propyloxime-N-propoxy bacteriopurpurinimide (dipropoxy-BPI), which was readily oxidized in oxygen atmosphere yielding the corresponding disulfide analogue (disulfide-BPI). Spectral, photophysical, photodynamic, and biological properties of compound were properly evaluated. Compounds bearing disulfide moiety can directly interact with glutathione (GSH), thereby reducing its intracellular concentration. Indeed, mice sarcoma S37 cell line was treated in vitro with disulfide-BPI, yielding a CC50 value of 0.05 ± 0.005 μM. A relatively high level of singlet oxygen was detected. It was demonstrated (by fluorescence) that the PS was rapidly accumulated in a cancer nest (S37) at a relatively high level after 2 h upon intravenous administration. After 24 h, no traces of the molecule were detected in the tumor mass. Moreover, high photodynamic efficiency was demonstrated at doses of 150-300 J/cm2 against two different in vivo tumor models, achieving 100% regression of cancer growth.

International audience; Propargyl-15 2 ,17 3-dimethoxy-13 1-amide of bacteriochlorin e (BChl) and a 4-(4-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl)-N-alkyl-1,8-naphthalimide bearing azide group in the N-alkyl fragment were conjugated by the copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to produce a novel dyad compound BChl–NI for anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) combining the modalities of a photosensitizer (PS) and a fluorescence imaging agent. A precise photo-physical investigation of the conjugate in solution using steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopy revealed that the presence of the naphthalimide (NI) fragment does not decrease the photosensitizing ability of the bacteriochlorin (BChl) core as compared with BChl; however, the fluorescence of naphthalimide is completely quenched due to resonance energy transfer (RET) to BChl. It has been shown that the BChl–NI conjugate penetrates into human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, and accumulates in the cytoplasm where it has a mixed granular-diffuse distribution. Both NI and BChl fluorescence in vitro provides registration of bright images showing perfectly intracellular distribution of BChl–NI. The ability of NI to emit light upon excitation in imaging experiments has been found to be due to hampering of RET as a result of photodestruction of the energy acceptor BChl unit. Phototoxicity studies have shown that the BChl–NI conjugate is not toxic for A549 cells at tested concentrations (o8 mM) without light-induced activation. At the same time, the concentration-dependent killing of cells is observed upon the excitation of the bacteriochlorin moiety with red light that occurs due to reactive oxygen species formation. The presented data demonstrate that the BChl–NI conjugate is a promissing dual function agent for cancer diagnostics and therapy.

Recombinant modular nanotransporter containing α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone peptide sequence (MNT-MSH) as a ligand module was designed for nucleus-targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents into melanoma cells. MNT-MSH radiolabeled with Auger electron emitter (111In-NOTA–MNT-MSH) showed a high antitumor efficacy in mice bearing syngeneic melanoma after intratumoral (i.t.) injection. This study is aimed at evaluating the biodistribution of the radioconjugate in melanoma tumor model in vivo. 111In-NOTA–MNT-MSH was administered i.t. in C57Bl/6j mice bearing subcutaneously implanted B16-F1 murine melanoma cells, expressing high levels of MCR1. The tissue uptake of radioactivity was determined ex vivo by γ-counter measurements. The intravenous route of administration did not provide a desirable level of radioactivity accumulation in the tumor, possibly, due to a high uptake of the transporter in liver tissue. After i.t. administration 111In-NOTA–MNT-MSH provided a high local retention of radionuclide, ranged fr...

Sixteen peptides differing in structure from the delta sleep inducing peptide (DSIP) by one to two substitutions of amino acid residues have been synthesized to study the possibility of their application in oncology. The antioxidant properties of the peptides in vitro and their detoxifying activity in vivo have been examined on a model of toxicosis caused by cisplatin, a cytostatic drug widely used in the therapy of tumor diseases. It has been shown that almost all DSIP analogues examined exhibit a direct antioxidant activity, with the activity of the ID-6 analogue being higher than that of DSIP and comparable with that of vitamin C and β-carotene. This analogue shows the most pronounced detoxifying activity toward the action of cisplatin, which manifests itself as a decrease in the death of animals from acute toxicity to 17% compared to 50–67% in the control and the restoration of some biochemical parameters of blood, in particular, a decrease in the activity of the enzymes, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, and the concentration of the end products of nitrogen exchange: creatinine and urea. Thus, the peptides of the DSIP family may appear promising agents for decreasing the toxic effects of cytostatics used in oncology.

Bacteriochlorin derivatives were synthesized by reacting bacteriopheophorbide methyl ether with diaminoalkanes bearing alkyl groups of different chain length. Biotests demonstrated their high in vitro phototoxicity at nanomolar concentrations against different types of epithelial cells, as well as high dose-dependent in vivo antitumor efficacy in tumor laden mice. At the doses of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, the tested photosensitizers (PS) provided 100% tumor growth inhibition and 100% response rate over 120 day follow-up period after PDT due to selective accumulation in the tumor tissue and rapid clearance from the body.

Physico-chemical properties, biodistribution in animal tissues, and PDT efficacy of bacteriochlorin photosensitizers, namely cationic salts of synthetic meso-tetrakis(N-alkyl-3-pyridyl)bacteriochlorins were studied in НЕр2 cell line and in the LLC mouse model. The tested compounds showed high stability in the dark and high in vitro phototoxicity against НЕр2 cells (the half maximal inhibitory concentration LD50 in the range from 0.34 ± 0.03 to 1.5 ± 0.03 μm). Synthetic bacteriochlorins rapidly accumulate in mouse tumor tissue with tumor-to-normal tissue fluorescence contrast ratios of 2.3–3.3, possess high PDT activity against LLC cells: inhibition of tumor growth, TGI 85.8–100%, increase in life span, ILS 105.7–129.2%, response rate, RR 50–100%. The highest PDT efficacy was found for meso-tetrakis[1-(4′-bromobutyl)-3-pyridyl]bacteriochlorin tetrabromide (IC50 0.34 ± 0.03 μm in vitro, TGI and RR 100% in vivo).

A regioselective synthesis of glycoconjugates based on bacteriochlorophyll a and lactose derivatives has been carried out. The conjugation was achieved via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of bacteriochlorins containing a terminal triple bond and a lactose azide derivative. The conjugates obtained in this way had one or two disaccharide fragments attached to pyrrol A, the exocyclic imide ring of the tetrapyrrolyc macrocycle, or to both positions. Exhaustive NMR analysis by 1D and 2D NMR experiments ( 1H-1H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, 1H-13C HSQC, HMBC, and 1H-15N HMBC) allowed us to determine the structures and configurations of the glycoconjugates obtained. A bioassay of the glycoconjugates using the Hep2 cell line showed that the highest efficiency was observed for the glycosylated bacteriopurpurinimide containing a lactose residue at pyrrole ring A.

Aggregative stable dispersions of particles with anisotropic cores of iron(III) oxyhydroxide and gold or silver nanoshells are synthesized. They feature maximum plasmonic absorption at about 1000 nm (i.e., in the “optical window” of biological tissues). Such composite particles are of considerable interest for their potential use in cancer therapy. The possibility of finely tuning the position of localized surface plasmon resonance to the required wavelength is demonstrated for the FeOOH core/Au(Ag) shell nanostructures through a controlled variation of the metal shell thickness with a very small step (up to 1 nm). The surface modification of such composite particles by polyethylene glycol (PEG) considerably enhances the aggregative stability of their aqueous dispersions. Quantitative information about the distribution dynamics of the PEG-conjugated composite FeOOH core/Au shell particles in various organs and tissues of tumor-bearing mice has been obtained after an intravenous injection of a colloid solution of these particles. It is shown that composite particles can remain for a rather long time in a bloodstream without aggregation; moreover, their accumulation in a tumor takes place. Preliminary in vivo experiments have shown that PEGylated FeOOH core/Au(Ag) shell particles are effective thermosensibilizers in the pulse laser therapy of tumors.

A recombinant pseudoadenovirus nanostructure (RPAN) based on human adenovirus of the 5th serotype that carries the human Lf gene was constructed to develop an effective system of human lactoferrin (Lf) production. It was shown using the model of toxicosis induced by cisplatin (DDP) that RPAN that carries the expressing cassette with a human Lf gene in its genome provides a high rate of Lf gene expression in animal organisms and ensures a high level of expression. The recombinant human Lf expressed in vivo, as does natural one, decreases the intensity of acute toxic reactions caused by DDP. It was shown that RPAN does not stimulate the growth or metastasis of experimental tumors. Moreover, at the early stages, it inhibits the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC), Ehrlich carcinoma (ELD), and sarcoma S-37. The obtained experimental data are indicative of the good prospects of the further medical-biological and medical study of RPAN and the production of a new, genetically engineered medicine of the new generation on its basis.

This work is devoted to studying the in vivo antitumor efficacy of the new injection radiopharmaceutical based on thermoresponsive polymer and β−-emitting radionuclide samarium-153 (153Sm-KARP-CheM). The study of in vivo antitumor efficacy was performed using mice F1 and C57Bl/6 with transplanted subcutaneously sarcoma S37 and melanoma B16, respectively. The animals received single intratumoral bolus injections of 37 MBq (1 mCi), or 18.5 MBq (0.5 mCi) of 153Sm-KARP-CheM, or saline in a volume 0.1 ml. The efficacy of antitumortreatment was evaluated using tumor growth inhibition index (TGI, %) and increase of average life span (ILS, %). The most meaningful therapeutic efficacy after intratumoral injection of 153Sm-KARPCheM was observed in melanoma-bearing mice C57Bl/6. The highest values of TGI for melanoma B16 were 79.5% and 79.6% after treatment with 18.5 MBq or 37 MBq, respectively. An increase of average life span by 17.1% was found in group of melanoma-bearing mice treated with 37 MBq of 153Sm-KARP-CheM only. Tumor growth inhibition of sarcoma S37 was slightly lower as compared with melanoma B16: 62.5% and 59.0% in 37 MBq and 18.5 MBq groups, respectively. 153Sm-KARP-CheM didn’t increase average life span of treated animals. In conclusion, 153Sm-KARP-CheM seems to be effective radiopharmaceutical for local tumor radiotherapy. Keywords: thermoresponsive polymer, samarium-153, radionuclide therapy of cancer, sarcoma S37, melanoma B16, antitumor efficacy.

The method of homologous recombination in E. coli cells was used to obtain a pseudoadenovirus nanostructure Ad5-lf that ensures the effective expression of the lactoferrin (Lf) gene in a permissive cell system with the high production of recombinant protein, which is similar in some physicochemical and biological properties to native human Lf.

The 13,15-N-(3'-hydroxypropylcycloimide) chlorin p6 (CIC), which absorbs at 711 nm, possesses considerable photoinduced cell-killing activity. It is 43-, 61- and 110-fold more active than chlorin p6, 3-formyl-3-devinyl chlorin p6 and Photogem, respectively, and has no cytotoxicity without irradiation as estimated on A549 human adenocarcinoma cells. To attain the highest intracellular penetration and activity the monomeric form of CIC should be stabilized. This stabilization in an aqueous environment can be achieved using 0.002-0.005% of Cremophor EL emulsion (polyoxyethylene derivative of hydrogenated castor oil). The intracellular accumulation of CIC occurs in cytoplasm in a monomeric form bound to cellular membranes. This form of the dye is characterized by a high quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation (0.66 +/- 0.02). Besides diffuse staining of intracellular membranous structures, CIC accumulates 3- to 4-fold more intensely in mitochondria and Golgi apparatus, thus indicating these organelles to be the initial targets of its photodynamic action. The incubation time providing 50% accumulation level of CIC in cells is 30 +/- 5 min. The time for 50% release of CIC from the cells is 60 +/- 10 min. A 10-fold decrease in CIC intracellular penetration at 22 degrees C proves that temperature-sensitive mechanisms of transport, rather than diffusion, are responsible for the dye uptake. The average cytoplasmic concentration of CIC was seven times the extracellular concentration in the 0.2-1.6 microM range, used for the photodynamic activity measurements. The concentration of CIC and the light dose that correspond to ca 50% level of phototoxicity induce predominantly an apoptotic-type of cell death, whereas the conditions providing 100% level of phototoxicity induced necrosis. The results obtained indicate that cycloimide derivatives of chlorin p6 may serve as a base for the development of an efficient near-IR photosensitizer.

Photosensitizers 13,15-[N-(3-hydroxypropyl)]cycloimide chlorin p6 (HPC) and 13,15-(N-methoxy)cycloimide chlorin p6 methyl ester (MMC) absorb at 711 nm and possess high photoinduced cytotoxicity in vitro. Here we report, that photodynamic therapy with HPC and MMC provide considerable antitumor effect in mice bearing subcutaneous P338 lymphoma. The highest antitumor effect was achieved at a dose of 4 μmol/kg when 1.5 h delay between dye injection and light irradiation (drug–light interval) was used. According to the confocal spectral imaging studies of tissue sections this drug–light interval corresponds to a maximum of tumor accumulation of MMC and HPC (tumor to skin accumulation ratio is 8–10). Short (15 min) drug–light interval can be used for efficient vasculature-targeted photodynamic therapy with HPC at a dose of 1 μmol/kg, whereas MMC is ineffective at the short drug–light interval. Relationships between the features of tissue distribution and efficacy of photodynamic therapy at different drug–light intervals are discussed for HPC and MMC.

Metal-free sulfonated phthalocyanine with the average number of sulfonate groups per molecule 2.4 (H(2)PcS(2.4)) was recently proved to be an efficient photosensitizer for the photodynamic therapy. Fluorescence spectral imaging microscopy was applied here to study localization and relative concentration of H(2)PcS(2.4) with micron-scale resolution in subcutaneously transplanted murine tumors: Ehrlich mammary gland carcinoma (EC), Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC), P388 lymphoid leukemia (P388) and B16 melanoma (B16). The study of cryogenic tissue sections prepared 24 h after H(2)PcS(2.4) intravenous injection revealed that H(2)PcS(2.4) was present in all tissue structures in the monomeric photoactive state. The preferential accumulation of H(2)PcS(2.4) was documented in tumor cells and adjacent non-tumor tissues (skin structures, fatty tissue, connective tissue enriched in fibrous component and infiltrated with fibroblasts and macrophages) for all the studied tumor models. P388 and B16 were stained with H(2)PcS(2.4) less than adjacent skin structures, whereas EC and LLC accumulated H(2)PcS(2.4) alike or higher than particular skin structures. Staining of EC and LLC was similar and ca. 1.4 and 2 times higher than that of B16 and P388, respectively, thus revealing the differences in ability of particular tumor strains to H(2)PcS(2.4) accumulation. The H(2)PcS(2.4) concentration in remote healthy tissues (skin, muscles and connective tissue) was 2-3 times lower as compared with the analogous tissue structures from the tumor area, whereas subcutaneous fatty tissue staining did not depend on the tissue-to-tumor distance. The tissue distribution of H(2)PcS(2.4) predefines the combined action of two photodynamic damage mechanisms: eradication of tumor due to the direct tumor cell destruction and suppression of tumor growth due to the injury of growth supporting system.

Upon interaction of hydrazine hydrate with bacteriopurpurin, the initially formed monohydrazide in an acidic medium readily reacts with the second carboxyl group to give a six-membered N-aminocycloimide of bacteriochlorin p6. The free amino group at the fused imide ring makes it easy to obtain N-alkyl and N-acyl derivatives. The compounds thus obtained exhibit high light-induced cytotoxicity on A549 human adenocarcinoma cells.

The combination of hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B12b) and ascorbicacid (vitamin C) can cause the death of tumor cells at the concentrationsof the components at which they are nontoxic when administeredseparately. This cytotoxic action on epidermoid human larynx carcinomacells HEp-2 in vitro is shown to be due to the hydrogen peroxidegenerated by the combination of vitamins B12b and C. The drop inthe glutathione level preceding cell death was found to be the result ofcombined action of the vitamins. It is supposed that the induction of celldeath by combined action of vitamins B12b and C is connected to the damageof the cell redox system.

Nanoparticles of aluminum and zinc phthalocyanin and metal-free phthalocyanin (AlPc, ZnPc, and H2Pc), whose molecular forms are photosensitizers, can serve as effective “prophotosensitizers” in photodynamic therapy for malignant tumors. Transition (stimulation) of photo-inert nanoparticles into a photoactive photosensitizer is realized locally in the tumor node by its exposure to potent laser pulses. Systemic injection of AlPc, ZnPc, and H2Pc nanoparticles has not led to accumulation of their photoactive form in the skin, which can lead to the development of skin phototoxicity. Effective protocols of photodynamic therapy with ZnPc nanoparticles are determined. The use of these protocols in mice with S-37 sarcoma led to 92-70% tumor growth inhibition, 48% improvement of survival, and cure in 84% cases.

The human iron-binding protein lactoferrin (hLf) has been implicated in a number of important physiological pathways, including those regulating immune function and tumor growth. In an effort to develop an efficient system for production of recombinant hLf (rhLf) that is structurally and functionally equivalent to the natural protein, we generated a recombinant CELO (chicken embryo lethal orphan) avian adenovirus containing an expression cassette for hLf. Embryonated chicken eggs were infected with the generated CELO-Lf virus. rhLf expression was measured in the allantoic fluid of infected eggs by ELISA three days later. The level of recombinant protein was about 0.8mg per embryo. rhLf was efficiently purified (up to 85% yield) from the allantoic fluid of infected eggs using affinity chromatography. rhLf produced in the allantoic fluid was characterized in comparison with natural hLf (nhLf) purified from human breast milk. SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and glycosylation analyzes showed that the recombinant protein had similar physical characteristics to nhLf. In addition, we demonstrated that the antioxidative and antimicrobial activity of rhLf produced in this system is equivalent to that of nhLf. Taken together, these results illustrate the utility of the described "recombinant CELO adenovirus-chicken embryo" system for production of functionally active rhLf. Efficient production of rhLf with accurate structure and function is an important step in furthering investigation of Lf as a potential human drug.

Four monocationic cycloimide derivatives of chlorin p(6) (CICD) were studied as photosensitizers and compared to a structurally similar neutral derivative. Cationic CICD are highly photostable (quantum yield of photobleaching is about 1 x 10(-5), generate singlet oxygen under irradiation (quantum yields are 0.3-0.45), can be involved in a photo-induced substrate-dependent generation of superoxide radicals, but do not produce OH . 17,18-delta-lacton 13(2)-(N-methylisonicotinylamido)-13,15-cycloimide mesochlorin p(6) () and 13(2)-(N-methylisonicotinylamido)-13,15-cycloimide mesochlorin p(6) methyl ester () possess high cancer cell killing photodynamic activity, but they provide no photoinduced bactericidal effect. Substitution of an ethyl group with a hydroxyethyl or acetyl group at position 3 of the macrocycle results in a decrease in extinction and intracellular accumulation that finally leads to the reduced photocytotoxicity. Cationic CICD are targeted to lysosomes, and their intracellular penetration occurs most probably via caveolae-dependent endocytosis. Photodynamic treatment with cationic CICD results in the cell death via necrosis at both sub-phototoxic (40-70% of dead cells) and phototoxic (90-100% of dead cells) regimes of cell treatment. Irradiation induces lysosome damage, leakage of CICD from lysosomes and development of protease activity in cytoplasm, whereas mitochondria are not affected with irradiation. A positive charge of cationic CICD modified drastically an internalization pathway, sites of intracellular localization and mechanisms of photoinduced cytotoxicity as compared to previously studied neutral and anionic CICD. Our experiments with different CICD show that varying charge and structure of substituents it is possible to modulate many cellular properties of CICD in order to find the best molecular template of the advanced near-IR photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

The N. Blokhin National Cancer Research Center is one of the few Russian scientific institutions in which hybridoma technology of monoclonal antibody (mAb) production has been successfully established. Using this technology, several dozens of mAbs to various antigens of human leukocytes have been elaborated. These mAbs are widely used for immune status evaluation and for differential diagnostics of leukemias. Two mAbs were used to develop therapeutic drugs. Imuteran is a pharmaceutical form of mAb ICO-25 against a mucin-like antigen of human milk fat globules and proposed for treatment of epithelial cell-originating cancers (breast, intestinal, ovarian, lung cancer, etc.). ThePhase II clinical study of this agent is now nearly completed, and preliminary results suggest Imuteran to be a promising anticancer agent with tumor-stabilizing activity, but patients should be carefully monitored for signs of allergic reactions. mAb ICO-90 against the CD3 antigen of human T lymphocytes was used to develop the therapeutic agent Atemonate proposed for treatment of acute transplant rejection. At present, the Phase II clinical study of this agent is over, and the results confirm the drug safety and efficacy for this indication. The drug is being registered at the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development, and transfer to serial production is expected shortly.

The new aqueous gel compositions based on 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) for fluorescent diagnostics and photodynamic therapy of superficial diseases have been elaborated. Biodegradable polymer was used as gel-forming component and some additives — solubilizer, emulgator etc — were used to improve distribution uniformity and penetration ability. These new compositions represent colorless and transparent gels which are long-term stable at the storage temperature of ≤5°C. The effectiveness of aqueous gels as ALA delivery systems is demonstrated. After topical administration of the gel at the skin with Ehrlich tumor inoculated subcutaneously, ALA effectively induces the synthesis of protoporphyrine IX (PPIX) in the skin and in the tumor. Intensity of ALA-induced PPIX fluorescence grows with increasing ALA concentration in the gel and time of gel application. The deepness of ALA penetration in the tumor reaches 5-6 mm after 4 h gel application. A distribution of ALA-induced PPIX in mouse tumor tissue after 4 h gel application depends on ALA concentration in gel. Intensity of PPIX fluorescence in deep-located part of tumor was substantially higher with gel containing 20% ALA than with ones containing 10% or 5% ALA.

Background Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) represents a technology to improve drug selectivity for cancer cells. It consists of delivery into tumor cells of a suicide gene responsible for in situ conversion of a prodrug into cytotoxic metabolites. Major limitations of GDEPT that hinder its clinical application include inefficient delivery into cancer cells and poor prodrug activation by suicide enzymes. We tried to overcome these constraints through a combination of suicide gene therapy with immunomodulating therapy. Viral vectors dominate in present-day GDEPT clinical trials due to efficient transfection and production of therapeutic genes. However, safety concerns associated with severe immune and inflammatory responses as well as high cost of the production of therapeutic viruses can limit therapeutic use of virus-based therapeutics. We tried to overcome this problem by using a simple nonviral delivery system. Methods We studied the antitumor efficacy of a PEI (polyethylenimine)-PEG (polyethylene glycol) copolymer carrying the HSVtk gene combined in one vector with granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) cDNA. The system HSVtk-GM-CSF/PEI-PEG was tested in vitro in various mouse and human cell lines, ex vivo and in vivo using mouse models. Results We showed that the HSVtk-GM-CSF/PEI-PEG system effectively inhibited the growth of transplanted human and mouse tumors, suppressed metastasis and increased animal lifespan. Conclusions We demonstrated that appreciable tumor shrinkage and metastasis inhibition could be achieved with a simple and low toxic chemical carrier – a PEI-PEG copolymer. Our data indicate that combined suicide and cytokine gene therapy may provide a powerful approach for the treatment of solid tumors and their metastases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-015-0433-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Di- and tri-sulfonated derivatives of metal-free phthalocyanine and Photosens have been compared in this study. In vitro phototoxicity was studied on HEp2, A549, and Colo26 cell cultures. It has been shown that phototoxicity of di- and tri- sulfonated derivatives of metal-free phthalocyanine exceeds phototoxicity of Photosens 5- and 8-times on HEp2 cell line, 8- and 6-times on A549 cell line, and 22-times on Colo26 cell line, respectively. In vivo photo-induced antitumor activity of metal-free phthalocyanine and Photosens was evaluated on mice with transplanted P388 lymphocytic leukemia. Dependence of photodynamic therapy efficiency on photosensitizer dose and time interval between preparation administration and irradiation was studied. It has been shown that Photosens is the most efficient in 5 mgikg of animal body weight dose and at 24-hour interval between injection and irradiation (tumor growth inhibition (TGI) - 82.2-95.6%). Metal-free phthalocyanine is the most efficient in 0.5 mg/kg dose which is 10- times lower than Photosens dose and when irradiated 4 hours later the injection (TGI - 78.6-100%). Metal-free di- and tri-sulfonated phthalocyanines are promising photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Taking into account its physical and chemical properties metal-free tri-sulfonated phthalocyanine named "Phthalosens" has been chosen for further thorough study.

Reactive oxygen species generated by photosensitizers are efficacious remedy for tumor eradication. Eleven cycloimide derivatives of bacteriochlorin p (CIBCs) with different N-substituents at the fused imide ring and various substituents replacing the 3-acetyl group were evaluated as photosensitizers with special emphasis on structure–activity relationships. The studied CIBCs absorb light within a tissue transparency window (780–830 nm) and possess high photostability at prolonged light irradiation. The most active derivatives are 300-fold more phototoxic toward HeLa and A549 cells than the clinically used photosensitizer Photogem due to the substituents that improve intracellular accumulation (distribution ratio of 8–13) and provide efficient photoinduced singlet oxygen generation (quantum yields of 0.54–0.57). The substituents predefine selective CIBC targeting to lipid droplets, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes or provide mixed lipid droplets and Golgi apparatus localization in cancer cells. Lipid droplets and Golgi apparatus are critically sensitive to photoinduced damage. The average lethal dose of CIBC-generated singlet oxygen per volume unit of cell was estimated to be 0.22 mM. Confocal fluorescence analysis of tissue sections of tumor-bearing mice revealed the features of tissue distribution of selected CIBCs and, in particular, their ability to accumulate in tumor nodules and surrounding connective tissues. Considering the short-range action of singlet oxygen, these properties of CIBCs are prerequisite to efficient antitumor photodynamic therapy. Abbreviations: AO, acridine orange; BODIPY ceramide, N-((4-(4,4-difluoro-5-(2-thienyl)-4-bora-3a, 4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-yl) phenoxy)acetyl)sphingosine; CIBC(s), cycloimide derivative(s) of bacteriochlorin p; CIC(s), cycloimide derivative(s) of chlorin p6; CrEL, polyoxyethylene derivative of hydrogenated castor oil, Cremophor EL; CSI, confocal spectral imaging; DR, distribution ratio, a ratio of average cytoplasmic concentration to the extracellular concentration of a photosensitizer; FCS, fetal calf serum; LSCM, laser scanning confocal microscopy; MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide; NIR, near infrared; PDT, photodynamic therapy; ΦΔ, singlet oxygen quantum yield; RNO, 4-nitroso-N,N,-dimethylaniline; Rh123, rhodamine 123; ROS, reactive oxygen species

Molecular in vitro and in vivo properties of 3-devinyl-3-formylchlorin p6 (FCp6) were examined in order to characterize this derivative as a new prospective photosensitizer. The long-wavelength absorption maximum of FCp6 was 690-696 nm (depending on environment). FCp6 was found to bind readily to membranous structures and form complexes with some proteins. The dye was associated with the plasmalemma and distributed rather diffusely along the cytoplasm with ca a three-fold higher accumulation within mitochondria in A549 human adenocarcinoma cells. The spectral analysis revealed that the major part of FCp6 was bound to membranes within cells. The membrane-bound FCp6 was shown to generate singlet oxygen efficiently. The average cytoplasmic concentration of FCp6 in A549 cells achieved ca 80% of its extracellular concentration in complete medium. The dye was characterized by a very fast efflux (16-fold decrease in 2 h). The ex vivo analysis of FCp6 fluorescence in mice revealed that the maximal dye content in blood, tissues, organs and tumor was achieved in less than 1 h after injection, followed by a considerable (ca six-fold) decrease during the next 23 h and a long-term persistence at low level. A preferential accumulation of FCp6 in subcutaneously implanted Ehrlich carcinoma along with its higher retention level comparing to the surrounding skin and muscles were observed in mice treated with different dye doses. In vitro cytotoxic assays with A549 and Raji B-cell lymphoma cells as well as in vivo analyses using Ehrlich carcinoma in mice revealed the very low toxicity of FCp6 without light irradiation and the significant photodynamic activity of this compound.

Binary systems combining a transition metal complex and ascorbate have been proposed recently for catalytic therapy of malignant tumors. The killing effect on tumor cells is achieved by production of free radicals in the course of accelerated oxidation of ascorbate by dioxygen in the presence of transition metal complexes. Further progress in the development of binary catalytic systems (BCSs) requires a special method for their investigation in cells and tissues, because neither component of BCSs fluoresces. Here a resonance Raman confocal spectral imaging (RR CSI) technique was introduced as a unique approach to monitor quantitatively the transition metal complexes within living cells. Intracellular accumulation, localization, and retention of theraphthal (TP), a catalyst of the advanced TP/ascorbate BCS, were investigated in A549 cells with the RR CSI technique. The cellular analysis was complemented with the detailed study of molecular interactions of TP in solution and environmental factors affecting the RR spectrum of TP. TP does not penetrate into membranes, it binds very weakly to DNA and RNA, but it readily forms complexes with proteins. Binding with Ca 2+ cations and decreasing pH below 6 induce aggregation of TP. By analyzing RR spectra recorded from every point within a TP-treated cell, three states of the agent were discriminated, namely, monomeric TP in polar environment, TP bound to proteins, and aggregated TP. Their cytoplasmic and nuclear distributions were mapped at different stages of uptake and efflux. By introducing organelle-selective fluorescent probes into drug-treated cells and measuring intracellular localization of both the probe and the drug, compartmentation of TP was revealed. Cell growth suppression by the TP/ascorbate system was measured, and probable molecular and organelle targets of radical damage were characterized.

A series of promising PDT sensitizers having intensive absorption maximum at 710 - 750 nm has been synthesized from the readily available purpurin 18. Modification of an anhydride ring is purpurin 18 afforded two series of cyclic imides. The first group comprises the N-substituted derivatives containing residues of aliphatic alcohols (C2- C4) and carboxylic acids (C1, C5). The second series is represented by the cyclic N-hydroxyimides containing the -N-OR group, where R is either alkyl or acyl residue. Cyclic imides possess increased resistance to alkali treatment, which enhances their water solubility. They absorb in the region of 706 - 718 nm. Further development of the spectral characteristics was achieved by the oxidation of a 3- vinyl group into the formyl one. The obtained compounds have the absorption maximum in the region of 750 nm, which makes them comparable to those of bacteriochlorophyll derivatives. The presence of a spacer group in the molecule of compounds synthesized affords their attachment to the carriers for the directed transport of a sensitizer into tumor.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

It is well established that the selectivity of accumulation of photosensitizer in malignant tissues determines largely the efficiency of photodynamic therapy. Existing photosensitizers have insufficient selectivity. Thus the conjugates of photosensitizers with different carriers are promising for targeting delivery into tumor. Recently the potential of the antibody-avidin-biotin system is well studied for in vivo diagnostics. In this work we suggest to use this system for targeted delivery of the polybiotinylated compounds into cancer cells. The avidin-biotin system is highly flexible from the point of view of the pharmacokinetics of uptake of photosensitizers and the pharmacodynamics of their action. This makes it possible to select optimal conditions for phototoxic action of polybiotinylated photosensitizers and some other drugs, which are derivatives of 'Photosens' and 'Teraphthal.'

The photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective method to treat cancer and other nononcological lesions by means of light action on photosensitizer in tissue. It is considered that destroying effect is mainly due to the formation of singlet oxygen resulting from the interaction of light excited photosensitizer with molecular oxygen (triplet state in the ground state). So the destroying effect will be proportional to the rate of singlet oxygen formation which is in turn depends on light intensity, photosensitizer concentration and molecular oxygen concentration. The present work deals with the investigation of blood oxygen saturation in microcircular vessels (SO2) during light irradiation in the PDT process. It has been observed that SO2 behavior strongly correlates with the light power density applied for PDT. The high power density resulted in sharp SO2 decrease. The connection of SO2 decrease with enhanced oxygen consumption rate and vessel destruction due to PDT is discussed.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The comparative study of the photosensitizers with different chemical, spectral-luminescent and photophysical properties (phthalocyanines -- photosense, di- and trisulphonated zinc (II) phthalocyanines; chlorines -- chlorine p6, desvinyl-3- formyl-chlorine p6 and 3-desvinyl-3-acetyl-chlorine p6; xanthenes --rhodamine 123, rhodamine 6G-chloride, rhodamine 6G-acetate, rhodamine 6G-iodide; arylamines -- oxazinne perchlorate, oxazine-1 zinc salt, 9-diethylamino-5- ethylaminobenzophe-nothiazonium acetate, methylene blue) was performed. The cyto- and the phototoxicity of these compounds were studied on the cells of two human tumor cell lines (Raji B-cell lymphoma and A-549 lung adenocarcinoma) by MTT-test. It was shown that phthalocyanines and chlorines were not cytotoxic, whereas xanthenes and arylamines possessed dark toxicity. On the basis of the IC50 (the substance concentration, which induced 50% inhibition of cell proliferation in the cell culture) the rows of phototoxicity of the compounds of various classes were set out: in phthalocyanines: ZnPcS2 greater than Photosence greater than ZnPcS3; in chlorines: 3dV-3F-Chl p6 greater than 3 dV-3Ac Chl p6 greater than Chl p6; in xanthenes: R6G- Ac greater than R6G-Cl greater than R6G-I greater than R 123; in arylamines: Meth B greater than or equal to 9-DE-B- Ac greater than Ox1-1/2ZnCl42- very much greater than Ox1-ClO4-. Phototoxicity of the studied compounds depended on the nature of the substitutes and of the counter ions in photosensitizers molecules as well as on the concentration of the photosensitizer, on the light doses and on the regimes of irradiation. The fractionation of the light doses increased the efficiency of the phototoxic effect of the dyes on the tumor cells significantly. It was shown by the luminescent microscopy that the dynamics and the intensity of the accumulation of the rhodamines derivatives in lung adenocarcinoma cells depended on the nature of the counter ion in the photosensitizer molecule and correlated with their cyto- and pho-toxicity. Thus, photosense, di- and trisulphonated zinc phthalocyanines, 3- desvinyl-3-formyl-chlorine p6, rhodamine 6G-acetate and methylene blue turned out to be promising for their further study as photodynamic agents and efficient modifiers of chemoradiotherapy and of PDT.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The first clinical trials of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer with two photosensitizers, PHOTOHEME and PHOTOSENS, were started in P.A. Hertzen Research Oncological Institute (Moscow, Russia) in 1992 and 1994. Up to now, 208 patients with primary, recurrent and metastatic malignant tumors (469) of skin (34 patients/185 tumors), breast cancer (24/101), head and neck (30/31), trachea and bronchus (31/42), esophagus (35/35), stomach (31/32), rectum (4/4), vagina and uterine cervix (7/8) and bladder (12/31) have been treated by PDT. One-hundred-thirty patients were injected with PHOTOHEME, 64 patients were injected with PHOTOSENS, 14 patients were injected with PHOTOHEME and PHOTOSENS. Totally, 302 courses of treatment were performed: 155 patients had one course and 53 patients were subjected to two to nine PDT sources with intervals from 1 to 18 months. A therapeutic effect of a one-course and multi- course PDT of malignant tumors (respiratory, digestive and urogenital systems) was evaluated clinically, histologically, roentgenologically, sonographically and endoscopically. The biochemical, hematological and immunological investigations were performed for all the patients in dynamics. Results of our study showed that a multi-course PDT method seems to be perspective in treatment of malignant tumors of basic localizations.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

A series of chlorin p6 derivatives modified at the 3- position of the macrocycle were prepared on the base of purpurin 18. The chlorins obtained have intense absorption maxima in the range of 665 - 698 nm and posses good water- solubility. Studying photodynamic activity of these sensitizers in vitro showed that the most effective was 3- devinyl-3-formylchlorin p6. This sensitizer demonstrated also enhanced in vivo affinity to the tumor tissue in comparison to other chlorins, which correlated with the pH values of aqueous solutions of sensitizers studied.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The comparative pharmacokinetical study of Al- and Zn- sulphonated phthalocyanines (AlPcS and ZnPcS, respectively) is the aim of the present work. Mice bearing solid Ehrlich tumor were used in this study. AlPcS (sodium salt) and ZnPcS (ammonium and sodium salts were used as photosensitizers. The photosensitizers were injected i/v in various doses. The exogenous fluorescence of tissues (tumor, liver, spleen, kidneys, muscles, skin) was measured dynamically after sensitization. It was shown that all of the photosensitizers under study had similar distribution pattern in organisms of mice and were selectively accumulated in the Ehrlich tumor tissue. The exogenous fluorescence intensity of tissues and it tumor:normal muscle ratio (Cs) depended on the dosage of the preparation, on the time, which had passed after drug injection, and on the stage of tumor growth. It was also shown that the kinetics of the tissue uptake of the studied sensitizers varied to some extent. Thus, the obtained data may be interesting for deeper understanding of the interaction of the dye with malignant tissues.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Free radicals are the main basis of anticancer effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT). At the same time, they cause different complications. The goal of this study is to investigate the changes in homeostasis of cancer patients under the influence of PDT. It was shown, as a result of study of antioxidizing and immune status of these patients, that there are significant deviations in their indices even before PDT. The treatment leads to further development of disbalance in these systems which demands correction. Several remedies have been offered for correction therapy. The application of these remedies causes the reduction of overstrain in antioxidizing defence and leads to decrease in cases of complications.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.