Distribution of hematoporphyrin derivative in canine glioma following intraneoplastic and intraperitoneal injection.

Hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) is a photosensitizing agent that has been used to locate and kill tumors. The distribution of tritiated (3H)-HPD was studied in a transplantable canine glioma model following intraperitoneal or direct intraneoplastic injection. Compared to intraperitoneal administration of 3H-HPD, direct injection resulted in levels that were more than 2.5 times higher in tumor tissue and approximately 10 times lower in skin. Dose-corrected analysis of the data indicated that outside the central nervous system (CNS) the distribution of 3H-HPD is dose-related, regardless of route of injection. Within the CNS, direct injection leads to more efficient uptake of 3H-HPD, especially at the tumor periphery. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the selective biodistribution of HPD fluorescence within the cytoplasm of tumor cells.