UPTAKE, LOCALIZATION AND EFFECT OF LASER TREATMENT ON CAD2 TUMORS SENSITIZED WITH ALUMINUM PHTHALOCYANINE TETRASULFONATE (ALPCS(4))

C3D2/F-1 mice bearing a mammary carcinoma (CaD2) transplanted subcutaneously on the foot were sensitized with 10 mg kg(-1) aluminium phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (AIPcS(4)). The sensitizer was injected i.p. from 1 to 72 h before tissue samples from the tumour, liver and muscle were collected and their concentration of AIPcS(4) were determined. The highest dye concentration in tumours and muscles was found at 1h, which was the first point of measurement. The dye concentration reached a peak after 6h in liver. At 2, 24 and 48h after sensitization tumours were exposed to laser light (680 nm), 135 J cm-(2). Growth curves showed the largest growth delay of tumours irradiated at 2h after sensitization compared with tumours irradiated at 24 or 48h. Fluorescence micrographs of tumours taken at 2, 24 and 48h after AIPcS(4) injection were also obtained. They showed that AIPcS(4) was localized in the vascular system in the tumour to a higher degree at 2h than at 24-48h after injection.