Thierry Patrice

Correlation between meta(tetrahydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC) biodistribution and photodynamic effects in mice

Analysis of sensitizer kinetics is essential for the performance of light irradiation when tumour concentration and tumour-to-normal tissue ratios are optimal. In this study nude mice were grafted with human adenocarcinoma 15 days before meta(tetrahydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC) intra-peritoneal (IP) injection. Fluorescence was recorded through an optic fibre spectrofluorometer at 650 (the most intense) and 714 nm, with intensity being proportional to injected dose. In tumour, skin and muscle the maximum fluorescence was obtained with 1.6 mg kg-1 72 h after injection (44 counts per second). Tumour-to-skin and tumour-to-muscle ratios obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and spectrofluorometric measurements decreased between 12 and 72 h (from 15 to 1.5), indicating that tumour selectivity decreases with time. This contrast between selectivity and fluorescence levels was also observed with photodynamic therapy (PDT) results, for which no differences were observed when 10 J cm-2 were delivered at 100 or 200 mW. PDT results were better 24 h after drug administration than at 72 h. Tumour growth decrease (-40%) was found when 1.6 mg kg-1 were injected 24 h before irradiation. For other groups a slower increase (12% vs. 23%) was noted in the first few days after PDT. The paradoxal correlation between fluorometric or HPLC measurements and PDT effects suggests that m-THPC localizes differently with time in tumour components.

Effects of photodynamic therapy on adhesion molecules and metastasis

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) induces among numerous cell targets membrane damage and alteration in cancer cell adhesiveness, an important parameter in cancer metastasis. We have previously shown that hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD)-PDT decreases cancer cell adhesiveness to endothelial cells in vitro and that it reduces the metastatic potential of cells injected into rats. The present study analyzes the influence of PDT in vivo on the metastatic potential of cancers cells and in vitro on the expression of molecules involved in adhesion and in the metastatic process. Photofrin and benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD) have been evaluated on two colon cancer cell lines obtained from the same cancer [progressive (PROb) and regressive (REGb)] with different metastatic properties. Studies of BPD and Photofrin toxicity and phototoxicity are performed by colorimetric MTT assay on PROb and REGb cells to determine the PDT doses inducing around 25% cell death. Flow cytometry is then used to determine adhesion-molecule expression at the cell surface. ICAM-I, MHC-I, CD44V6 and its lectins (àHt1.3, PNA, SNA and UEA) are studied using cells treated either with BPD (50 ng/ml, 457 nm light, 10 J/cm2) or Photofrin (0.5 microgram/ml, 514 nm light, 25 J/cm2). Changes of metastatic patterns of PROb cells have been assessed by the subcutaneous injection of non-lethally treated BPD or Photofrin cells and counting lung metastases. First, we confirm the metastatic potential reduction induced by PDT with respectively a 71 or 96% decrease of the mean number of metastases (as compared with controls) for PROb cells treated with 50 ng/ml BPD and 10 or 20 J/cm2 irradiation. Concerning Photofrin-PDT-treated cells, we find respectively a 90 or 97% decrease (as compared with controls) of the mean number of metastases for PROb cells treated with 0.5 microgram/ml Photofrin and 25 or 50 J/cm2 irradiation. Then, we observe that CD44V6, its lectins (àHt1.3, PNA, SNA) and MHC-I are significantly decreased (compared with the other molecules tested) in PROb and REGb cells after both BPD and Photofrin PDT treatment. These modifications in adhesion-molecule expression, particularly of CD44V6, can thus account only for part of the decrease in the metastatic potential of PDT-treated cancer cells. Changes in adhesion-molecule expression induced by PDT are only transient, implying that the rate of metastatic reduction is probably not linked simply to these changes.

Synthesis, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a diphenylchlorin sensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

This paper reports the synthesis of a new diphenylchlorin photosensitizer, 2,3-dihydro-5,15-di(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (SIM01). The photodynamic properties, cell uptake and localization of SIM01 were compared with those of structurally related meso-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC). In vitro studies were conducted on rat glioma cells (C6) and human adenocarcinoma (HT-29), and in vivo studies on human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) and human prostate adenocarcinoma cells (PC3). Both dyes showed an absorption maximum at around 650 nm, with a molar extinction coefficient of 13017 M(-1) cm(-1) for SIM01 and 22718 M(-1) cm(-1) for m-THPC. Their capacity to generate singlet oxygen was identical, but differences in partition coefficients indicated that SIM01 was slightly more hydrophilic. In vitro, SIM01 was slightly more phototoxic than m-THPC for C6 cells (4.8 vs. 6.8 microg ml(-1)). However, phototoxicities were nearly identical for HT29 cells (0.45 microg ml(-1) for 5 h incubation followed by 300 mW, 20 J cm(-2)). Pharmacokinetics in vivo in mice, as determined by fibre spectrofluorimetry, showed that the SIM01 fluorescence signal in the tumor was maximal between 6 and 12 h after injection, as compared to 72 h for m-THPC. With a 2 mg kg(-1) dye dose and laser irradiation at 300 J cm(-2) (650 nm, 300 mW), the optimal PDT response occurred when the interval between injection and irradiation was 6 h for SIM01 and 24 h for m-THPC. For SIM01 with 5 mg kg(-1) injection, the optimal PDT response occurred with a 12 h delay and with the same irradiation parameters as described above, in this case the tumor response showing 40% growth. Considering the tumor volume doubling time, the value was 6.5 days in the control group and increased to 13.5 days with SIM01. Thus, SIM01 may be a powerful sensitizer characterized by strong in vitro and in vivo phototoxicity and faster tissue uptake and elimination than m-THPC.

In Vitro Fluorescence, Toxicity and Phototoxicity Induced by δ-Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) or ALA-Esters

Abstract Synthesis of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) derivatives is a promising way to improve the therapeutic properties of ALA, particularly cell uptake or homogeneity of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) synthesis. The fluorescence emission kinetics and phototoxic properties of ALA-n-pentyl ester (E1) and R,S-ALA-2-(hydroxymethyl) tetrahydrofuranyl ester (E2) were compared with those of ALA and assessed on C6 glioma cells. ALA (100 μg/mL), E1 and E2 (10 μg/mL) induced similar PpIX-fluorescence kinetics (maximum between 5 and 7 h incubation), fluorescence being limited to the cytoplasm. The 50% lethal dose occurred after 6 h with 45, 4 and 8 μg/mL of ALA, E1 and E2, respectively. ALA, E1 and E2 induced no dark toxicity when drugs were removed after 5 min of incubation. However, light (25 J/cm2) applied 6 h after 5 min incubation with 168 μg/mL of each compound induced 85% survival with ALA, 27% with E1 and 41% with E2. Increasing the incubation time with ALA, E1 and E2 before washing increased the phototoxicity, but E1 and E2 remained more efficient than ALA, regardless of incubation time. ALA-esters were more efficient than ALA in inducing phototoxicity after short incubation times, probably through an increase of the amount of PpIX synthesized by C6 cells.

Modulation of colonic cancer cell adhesiveness by haematoporphyrin derivative photodynamic therapy

Haematoporphyrin derivative photodynamic therapy (HPD-PDT) induces damage of plasma membranes and other cellular targets. This damage could modify the adhesiveness of cancer cells, which is an important parameter in cancer metastasis. We studied the effect of HPD alone and HPD incubation followed by argon laser light on the adhesiveness of progressive (PROb) or regressive (REGb) cancer cells of the same colonic origin. Adhesiveness was studied on plastic or endothelial cell monolayers (ECMs). In the absence of treatment, both PROb and REGb cells adhered better on plastic than on ECs. HPD alone and HPD-PDT induced toxicity proportional to the HPD dose. HPD-PDT increased the adhesiveness rate of both cell lines on plastic and decreased adhesiveness to ECs. HPD-PDT of ECMs increased adhesiveness but only for HPD doses giving at least 50% cell death. HPD alone and HPD-PDT of culture media led to an insignificant decrease in the cell adhesiveness to ECMs. As cells which are more metastatic are also more adherent, a decreased adhesiveness to ECMs after HPD-PDT suggests that PDT is a safe treatment considering metastasis.

Hydroporphyrins as tumour photosensitizers: synthesis and photophysical studies of 2,3-Dihydro-5,15-di(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl) porphyrin

The synthesis and characterization of 2,3-dihydro-5,15-di(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl) porphyrin is reported. The phototoxicity on C6 cell lines and the pharmacokinetics are also reported as preliminary results showing a very high tumor to skin ratio and short retention time in tissues, and thus promising activity in photodynamic therapy.

Use of alkaline Comet assay to assess DNA repair after m-THPC-PDT.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Photofrin has already been authorized for certain applications in Japan, the USA and France, and powerful second-generation sensitizers such as meta-(tetrahydroxyphenyl) chlorin (m-THPC) are now being considered for approval. Although sensitizers are likely to localize within the cytoplasm or the plasma membrane, nuclear membrane can be damaged at an early stage of photodynamic reaction, resulting in DNA lesions. Thus, it is of critical importance to assess the safety of m-THPC-PDT, which would be used mainly against early well-differentiated cancers. In this context, m-THPC toxicity and phototoxicity were studied by a colorimetric MTT assay on C6 cells to determine the LD50 (2.5 microg/ml m-THPC for 10 J/cm2 irradiation and 1 microg/ml for 25 J/cm2 irradiation) and PDT doses inducing around 25% cell death. Single-cell electrophoresis (a Comet assay with Tail Moment calculation) was used to evaluate DNA damage and repair in murine glioblastoma C6 cells after LD25 or higher doses for assays of PDT. These results were correlated with m-THPC nuclear distribution by confocal microspectrofluorimetry. m-THPC failed to induce significant changes in the Tail Moment of C6 cells in the absence of light, whereas m-THPC-PDT induced DNA damage immediately after irradiation. The Tail Moment increase was not linear (curve slope being 43 for 0-1 microg/ml m-THPC and 117 for 1-3 microg/ml), but the mean value increased with the light dose (0, 10 or 25 J/cm2) and incubation time (every hour from 1 to 4 h) for an incubation with m-THPC 1 microg/ml. However, cultured murine glioblastoma cells were capable of significant DNA repair after 4 h, and no residual DNA damage was evident after 24-h post-treatment incubation at 37 degrees C. An increase in the light dose appeared to be less genotoxic than an increase in the m-THPC dose for similar toxicities. Our results indicate that m-THPC PDT appears to be a safe treatment since DNA repair seemed to not be impaired and DNA damage occurred only with lethal PDT doses. However, the Comet assay cannot give us the certainty that no mutation, photoadducts or oxidative damage have been developed so this point would be verified with another mutagenicity assay.

In vitro evaluation of Radachlorin® sensitizer for photodynamic therapy

This paper reports the evaluation of a new photosensitizer, Radachlorin in comparison with one of its well known components but used solely, Chlorin e(6). The photodynamic properties and cell uptake and localisation of the two drugs were compared. In vitro studies were conducted on human adenocarcinoma cells (HT29) and lung carcinoma cell line (A549). Both dyes showed an absorption maximum between 640 and 650 nm, but those absorption peaks are enhanced by interactions with serum, with a shifted maximum at 661 and 664 nm, and much higher absorbance. As Radachlorin is constituted of different products and as photoreactivity is dependent on absorbed light energy, we chose to adapt concentrations so that both drugs had the same absorption at the irradiation wavelength (664 nm) for photoreactivity tests, and express concentrations in optical density at 664 nm. The capacity of the two drugs to generate Reactive Oxygen Species was identical, but on HT29 cells, Radachlorin reaches its optimal LD50 sooner than Chlorin e(6). Radachlorin LD50 on HT29 cells was 0.0251 OD(664 nm) after 2 h and 0.0672 OD(664 nm) for Chlorin e(6) for a 20 J cm(-2) irradiation. Radachlorin gave very similar results on A549 cells, LD50 being 0.05 for 5 J irradiation, and 0.026 for 10 and 20 J cm(-2). Pharmacokinetics using fluorescence showed that, even if Radachlorin quickly crossed HT29 (a human colonic cancer line) cell membrane, cellular distribution evolved from a diffuse cytoplasmic repartition 1 hour after Radachlorin addition to a delimited localisation into organelles all around the nucleus. Radachlorin intracellular fluorescence decreased after 4 h, whereas we did not observe a decrease of Chlorin e(6) intracellular fluorescence for times up to 24 h. In both case, a quick decline was observed as soon as the culture medium was replaced with a drug-free one. Radachlorin appears to be an excellent photosensitizer, with similar phototoxicity to Chlorin e(6) on cell cultures, but with quicker kinetics, which could be an improvement if confirmed on further in vivo studies.

In vivo photosensitizing efficiency of a diphenylchlorin sensitizer: interest of a DMPC liposome formulation

The pharmacokinetic behaviour and phototherapeutic effectiveness of 2,3-dihydro-5,15-di(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (SIM01), a new diphenylchlorin photosensitizer incorporated into dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes, were studied in vivo in nude mice bearing HT29 human adenocarcinoma. The photophysical and photochemical specificity of SIM01 are a strong absorption at 647 nm, high photosensitizing efficiency and a rapid pharmacokinetic profile making SIM01 an attractive candidate for PDT. The pharmacokinetics in vivo, as determined by fiber spectrofluorimetry, showed that tumor concentration was found maximal for SIM01 and SIM01-DMPC 12h after injection, with better uptake for the liposomal formulation. With a 2 mg kg(-1) dye dose, optimal PDT response occurred when the interval between injection and irradiation was 12h for both formulations, with laser irradiation of 300J cm(-2) (650 nm, 300 mW). At day 12 after treatment involving a 12-h interval between injection and irradiation, tumor growth was decreased by 26% for SIM01 (P=0.005) and 35% for SIM01-DMPC (P=0.001) as compared to the untreated group.SIM01 would appear to be a powerful sensitizer characterized by high in vivo phototoxicity and rapid tissue uptake and elimination. Our results suggest that SIM01 delivered in a liposomal dispersion is as effective as the raw formulation, something that would open new delivery routes and PDT applications.

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY DECREASES CANCER COLONIC CELL ADHESIVENESS AND METASTATIC POTENTIAL

Plasma membrane damage induced in various cell targets by hematoporphyrin (HPD) photodynamic therapy (PDT) could modify cancer cell adhesiveness, an important parameter in cancer metastasis. We investigated the effect of HPD or HPD incubation followed by argon laser light on the adhesiveness of progressive (PROb) or regressive (REGb) cancer cells of the same colonic origin but with a different in vivo metastatic potential. Adhesiveness was studied on plastic or endothelial cell monolayers (ECM). In the absence of treatment, both PROb and REGb cells adhered better on plastic than on ECM. HPD alone or HPD-PDT induced toxicity proportional to the HPD dose. HPD-PDT increased the adhesiveness rate of both cell lines on plastic and decreased it on ECM. HPD-PDT of ECM increased adhesiveness, but only at HPD doses causing at least 50% cell death. With HPD treatment alone or HPD-PDT of culture media, there was no significant decrease in cell adhesiveness to ECM. We also studied the effect of HPD or HPD incubation followed by argon laser light on the metastatic potential of cancer cells, which was decreased for PROb with HPD alone or HPD-PDT. Decreased adhesiveness of colonic cancer cells to ECM after HPD-PDT was thus correlated with decreased metastatic potential. REGb cells did not acquire a progressive phenotype either in vitro or in vivo after HPD-PDT.