Abstract
Single-cell electrophoresis (comet assay) has been used to evaluate DNA damage and repair in the human myeloid leukaemia cell line K562 after low-dose (predominantly sub-lethal) treatments of hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Three different photosensitizers were examined: haematoporphyrin derivative (HpD), methylene blue (MB) and meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (mTHPC). None of the drugs in the absence of light, nor in light alone, resulted in detectable DNA damage. However, a significant amount of DNA damage was detected immediately after treatment with haematoporphyrin derivative or methylene blue PDT compared with drug-only or light-only treatments; no residual level of DNA damage was evident for either drug following a 4-h post-treatment incubation at 37 degrees C. No significant DNA damage was detected after meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin PDT or hyperthermia either immediately or 4 h after treatment. We conclude that the alkaline comet assay can be applied as an effective screening assay for DNA damage induced by a range of laser therapies.
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McNair, F., Marples, B., West, C. et al. A comet assay of DNA damage and repair in K562 cells after photodynamic therapy using haematoporphyrin derivative, methylene blue and meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin. Br J Cancer 75, 1721–1729 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.295
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.295
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