Uptake of hematoporphyrin derivative and sensitized photoinactivation of C3H cells with different oncogenic potential.

Four types of mouse embryo fibroblast cells of different oncogenic potential were investigated with respect to uptake of the tumor localizing agent hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd) and sensitized photoinactivation. Cell size and cellular content of Hpd were measured simultaneously for single cells by means of flow cytofluorimetry. The more malignant cell types had a slightly higher porphyrin uptake per unit cellular volume than the untransformed type, while the photosensitivity of cells incubated with Hpd was equal for all the cell types. Since Hpd seems to concentrate in membranes, this may be related to the fact that the membrane areas of malignant cells are relatively larger than that of untransformed cells, due to the presence of more microvilli. The present study indicates that the preferential localization of Hpd in tumors, as well as the high efficiency of phototherapy reported in the literature, are due to extracellular differences between the tumors and normal tissue.