Photodynamic therapy of ovarian tumours and normal cells using 5,10,15,20-tetra-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-chlorin

The photosensitizing ability of the second generation photosensitizer 5,10,15,20-tetra-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-chlorin (m-TCMPC), a derivative of m-THPC, was tested on both three-dimensional multicellular spheroids of varying sizes and on monolayer cultures. These experiments were carried out on two spheroid-forming cell lines, A2780 (a human ovarian adenocarcinoma) and CHO (Chinese hamster ovarian cells). For both cell lines, photodynamic therapy (sensitizer plus visible light) treatments were carried out. The chlorin m-TCMPC was shown to have considerable promise as a photosensitizing agent. Cell kill was achieved for all situations tested, i.e. monolayer, 100, 500 and 750 μm spheroids. In addition no significant dark toxicity was observed.