Photofrin accumulation in malignant and host cell populations of various tumours

Photofrin accumulation in malignant and host cell populations of various tumours was studied by flow cytometry analysis of cells dissociated from the tumour tissue. The transplantable mouse tumour models included in this analysis were sarcomas EMT6, RIF, KHT and FsaN, Lewis lung carcinoma, SCCVII squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and slowly growing moderately differentiated AT17 SCC. An example of spontaneous mouse adenocarcinoma was also examined. Staining with specific monoclonal antibodies was used to identify the various cell populations present in these tumours. The main characteristic of Photofrin cellular accumulation was a very high photosensitiser content found exclusively in a subpopulation of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs). Photosensitiser levels similar to or lower than in malignant cells were observed in the remaining TAMs and other tumour-infiltrating host cells. Photofrin accumulation in malignant cells was not equal in all tumour models, but may have been affected by tumour blood perfusion/vascularisation. Results consistent with the above findings were obtained with SCC of buccal mucosa induced by 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene in Syrian hamsters. The TAM subpopulation that accumulates by far the highest cellular Photofrin levels in tumours is suggested to be responsible for the tumour-localised photosensitiser fluorescence.