Hematoporphyrin derivative: quantitative uptake in dimethylhydrazine-induced murine colorectal carcinoma.

The selective affinity of hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) for dimethyl-hydrazine-induced colorectal malignancies in mice was evaluated both visually and by a quantitative microfluorescent photometric technique. A significant correlation was found between higher concentrations of HpD in colon biopsies determined by microfluorescence spectroscopy and the presence of carcinoma cells in these biopsies as identified by histologic examination. Visual inspection of the gross fluorescence of tumor-bearing colons in this experimental model, however, was not helpful in differentiating malignant from nonmalignant tissue. The implications of this study regarding the clinical application of HpD tumor fluorescence for the detection of colorectal carcinoma are discussed.