Absence of rhodamine 123-photochemotoxicity in human tumor xenografts

Rhodamine 123 (R123)-photochemotoxicity was assessed in BALB/c nude mice bearing a xenografted human squamous cell carcinoma at various power densities and wavelengths and a given incident fluence of 150 Joules/cm2. One hour before light delivery, 1 mg R123/kg was injected i.p. in 20 animals. Surface irradiance was performed on the tumor and an equal size hind leg area of 40 animals. Three groups of 10 animals were treated at 514.5 nm and 0.1 W/cm2, 1 W/cm2, and 30 W/cm2, and one at 488 nm and 30 W/cm2. In each group, five animals received R123. The R123 concentration was measured in the tumor (0.023 ± 0.007 μg/g) and tumor-free tissue (0.023 ± 0.008 μg/g) in three additional animals by high performance liquid chromatography 1 hour after R123-administration. Histologic assessment 72 hours after light delivery revealed no tissue damage at nonthermal power densities, either in the tumor or in the tumor-free tissue, irrespective of R123-administration. At 30 W/cm2, neither in the tumor nor in tumor-free tissues was there any significant difference in the depth of necrosis, irrespective of R123-administration and the wavelength applied. Our results question the validity of R123 as a photosensitizer, at least in this rodent tumor model. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.