Transformation and mutagenic potential of porphyrin photodynamic therapy in mammalian cells.

The transformation and mutagenic potential of porphyrin photodynamic therapy has been examined in mammalian cells. The mutagenic frequency in Chinese hamster cells at the Na+/K+ ATPase locus was measured by resistance to ouabain following treatment with either photodynamic therapy (PDT) or UV irradiation. The C3H 10T 1/2 mouse embryo cell system was used to document the transformation frequency following PDT, UV irradiation, gamma irradiation or exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA). Treatments with UV irradiation were effective in producing mutants resistant to ouabain, and treatments with UV irradiation, gamma irradiation and MCA generated transformants at frequencies comparable to those which are reported in the literature. However, PDT treatment conditions (which produced a full range of cytotoxicity) did not induce any mutagenic or transformation activity above background levels.