Comparison of photodynamic inactivation of experimental stomach tumors sensitized by acridine orange or hematoporphyrin derivatives.

The photodynamic inactivations of Walker carcinosarcoma 256 stomach tumors by the concomitant use of acridine orange (AO) and argon laser, and by the combined use of hematoporphyrin derivatives (HPD) and dye laser were compared. Wistar rats bearing stomach tumors of 4-6 mm in diameter 5-10 days after their implantation were injected intraperitoneally with 40 mg/kg body weight of AO or HPD, and 24 h later their stomach tumors were exposed to argon laser at 488 nm or dye laser at 630 nm, respectively, at an intensity of 15 mW/cm2 for 20 min. Temperature rise was less than 3 degrees C during irradiation. Seven days after irradiation, complete or partial necrosis with sparing of the surrounding mucosa was seen histologically in all rats treated by the two therapy methods. Phase contrast and electron microscopy showed nuclear pyknosis and damage to the inner layer of the nuclear envelope in tumor cells treated with AO and argon laser, while cytotoxicity involved damage to the outer layer of the nuclear envelope and intracytoplasmic organelles in tumor cells treated with HPD and dye laser. This difference between AO and HPD is considered to be a difference in their intracellular localization in tumor cells.