Efficacy of multiple low-dose photodynamic TMPYP4 therapy on cervical cancer tumour growth in nude mice

Abstract

Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging therapeutic procedure suitable for the treatment of cervical cancer. However, the side effects of PDT are severe, including skin ulceration, so we designed an experiment to examine the effects of multiple low- dose photodynamic therapy of 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (Tmpyp4) on tumour growth by utilizing a model in nude mice implanted with Hela cervical cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Female BALB/c nude mice (aged 5-6 weeks, weighing 18-20 g) were used. Hela cervical cancer cells were injected subcutaneously (1×107 cells/200 μL). Ten days after injection, the mice were divided into three groups (n=6), the A group of controls without any treatment, the B group receiving a single-treatment with Tmpyp4 (10 mg/kg, intratumor injection) and irradiation (blue laser, 108 J/cm2), and the C group given three-treatments with Tmpyp4 (10 mg/ kg, intratumor injection) and irradiation at intervals of two days. After starting treatment, tumours were measured every two days, to assess growth. At 2 weeks after the last treatment of C group, tumour tissue and organs were collected from each mouse to evaluate tumor histology and organ damage. Results: Tumour growth in C group was significantly inhibited compared with A and B groups (P < 0.05), without any injury to the skin and internal organs. Conclusion: Our novel findings demonstrated that multiple low-dose photodynamic therapy of Tmpyp4 could inhibit cervical cancer growth significantly with no apparent side effects.