Abstract
The problem of relying solely on in vitro data to predict photosensitiser efficacy was demonstrated by examining the uptake and the ability to mediate photocytotoxicity of mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-sulphonated species of chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (AlS1-4Pc) in monolayer cultures of murine Colo 26 cells and in both monolayer and spheroid cultures of human WiDr cells. Cells treated in vitro, whether in monolayer or as spheroids, with the less sulphonated derivatives, AlS1Pc and AlS2Pc, were more susceptible to photocytotoxicity than those treated with AlS3Pc, cells treated with AlS4Pc were even less susceptibile to the cytotoxic effects of light irradiation. Generally these results mirrored the cellular uptake in vitro. When WiDr spheroids were increased in size from 250 microns to 500 microns there was a reduction in uptake of AlS1Pc and AlS2Pc which was reflected by the decreased sensitivity of the larger spheroids to the effects of light irradiation. AlS1Pc had no effect against Colo 26 cells growing as s.c. tumours in syngeneic BALB/c mice; whereas AlS3Pc, AlS2Pc and AlS4Pc produced significant reductions in tumour weights 5 days post laser light irradiation. Of these, AlS2Pc had the most dramatic effect on the colony forming efficiency of tumour cells recovered 24 h after PDT. While, despite their effects on tumour size, AlS3Pc and AlS4Pc scarcely affected the subsequent viability of cells from dissociated tumours. Thus the in vitro efficacy of the sulphonated species of phthalocyanines is not necessarily predictive of their in vivo effectiveness.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chan, W., West, C., Moore, J. et al. Photocytotoxic efficacy of sulphonated species of aluminium phthalocyanine against cell monolayers, multicellular spheroids and in vivo tumours. Br J Cancer 64, 827–832 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1991.408
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1991.408
This article is cited by
-
Phthalocyanine aggregates in the photodynamic therapy: dogmas, controversies, and future prospects
Biophysical Reviews (2023)
-
Phthalocyanine conjugates with carbohydrates: synthesis and aggregation in aqueous solutions
Russian Chemical Bulletin (2013)
-
Non-monotonic changes in clonogenic cell survival induced by disulphonated aluminum phthalocyanine photodynamic treatment in a human glioma cell line
Journal of Translational Medicine (2010)
-
Water-soluble aluminium phthalocyanine–polymer conjugates for PDT: photodynamic activities and pharmacokinetics in tumour-bearing mice
British Journal of Cancer (1999)
-
Photodynamic effects of di-sulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine on human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro
Lasers in Medical Science (1994)