Spectrofluorimetric detection of DMBA-induced mouse skin carcinoma

An attempt has been made to evaluate the normal and cancer blood samples of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse skin carcinoma by spectrofluorimetric method. Analysis of acetone extracts of plasma, erythrocyte and erythrocyte membrane showed an alteration around 630 nm when excited at 400 nm by cancer samples, compared to normal samples. The ratio of fluorescent intensity at 530 nm/630 nm was found to be decreased in erythrocyte and plasma and increased in erythrocyte membrane. These changes are not detectable in both hemolysates. It has been suggested that erythrocytes may be the carriers of fluorophors that accumulate in cancer tissue and may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of malignancies.