Tumor-localizing components of the porphyrin preparation hematoporphyrin derivative.

Synthetic and analytical approaches were used to characterize the tumor-localizing components of the porphyrin preparation, hematoporphyrin derivative. From studies involving aqueous and nonaqueous gel exclusion and reverse-phase chromatography, we conclude that localization is mediated by hematoporphyrin derivative components which are among the most hydrophobic in the preparation. This apparent hydrophobicity may derive from hydrogen-bonding phenomena, rather than from absence of hydrophilic functional groups.