Anticancer Effects of Novel Photodynamic Therapy with Glycoconjugated Chlorin for Gastric and Colon Cancer

Background/Aim: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an attractive, minimally invasive modality for cancer therapy that utilizes the interaction of light and photosensitizer. To improve the efficacy of PDT, development of cancer specificity of the photosensitizer is needed. Cancer cells consume more glucose than normal cells. In this study, the efficacy of PDT using a newly developed photosensitizer, glycoconjugated chlorin (H2TFPC-SGlc), was compared with Talaporfin, which is clinically used in Japan. Materials and Methods: Photosensitizers were administered to gastric and colon cancer cell lines, followed by irradiation of light, and the cell death-inducing effects were compared. Xenograft tumor mouse models were established and photosensitizer accumulation was assessed and antitumor effects analyzed. Results: In vitro, H 2 TFPC-SGlc was 30 times more cytotoxic to cancer cells than was Talaporfin. In vivo, H 2 TFPC-SGlc accumulation was higher in xenograft tumors and significantly suppressed tumor growth when compared with Talaporfin. Conclusion: This novel glycoconjugated chlorin is potentially useful in PDT.