Abstract
The murine tail has been used as a model for injury to skin when hyperthermia (HT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) using haematoporphyrin derivative, are used in combination. Skin injury by either agent alone was quantitated by the probability of tail necrosis as a function of dose of agent. 'Tolerance' doses of each modality were given and changes in skin vascular function were measured by the rate of clearance of 133Xenon. This was promptly inhibited but restored to normal by 7 days. The absolute numbers of hypodermal vessels of different sizes were measured in tail cross-sections and capillary numbers were found to be greatly reduced between 1 and 7 days, and restored to normal by 21-28 days. When a tolerance dose of PDT was followed at 1, 7, 21 and 28 days by test doses of HT, or vice versa, marked enhancements in probability of necrosis were observed when the interval was 1 or 7 days (Enhancement ratio (ER)PDT-HT = 1.5 and ERHT-PDT = 1.8). Prolonging the interval between modalities to 21-28 days spared the tissue (ERHT-PDT/21 DAYS = 1.1; ERPDT-HT/28 DAYS = 1.0). Close temporal apposition of PDT and HT, such as has been advocated to improve tumour control, may also increase injury to normal tissue through vascular effects common to both.
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
Moore, J., West, C. & Haylett, A. Vascular function and tissue injury in murine skin following hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy, alone and in combination. Br J Cancer 66, 1037–1043 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1992.406
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1992.406