In vitro PHOTOSENSITIZING PROPERTIES OF RHODAMINE 123 ON DIFFERENT HUMAN TUMOR CELL LINES

Abstract— In this study, human tumor cell lines of different origin (colon carcinoma HT29, breast carcinoma MCF7 and malignant melanoma M14) were incubated for 24 h at 37*deg;C with Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) at concentrations ranging up to 4 μg/ml;. Immediately after drug removal, light irradiation was delivered at 500 W/m² for 5 min using an argon laser. After irradiation, viable cells were counted and assayed for colony formation. When only Rh123 was administered, a 50% survival was obtained at about 2.77 μg/ml and 1.48 μg/ml; for HT29 and MCF7, respectively. After light irradiation, 50% survival doses decreased to 0.47 μg/ml and 0.18 μg/ml for the two carcinoma cell lines, respectively. In the case of malignant melanoma, the decrease in survival was relatively lower than those obtained with carcinoma cells: 50% survival dose was 3.54 μg/ml with Rh123 alone and 1.32 μ/ml after irradiation. The lower sensitivity of M14 melanoma cells seems to be related to different uptake and release of drug by these cells with respect to carcinoma lines.