The aim of this study was to assess the anti-tumor effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a novel bacteriochlorophyll derivative, palladium-bacteriopheophorbide (TOOKAD) on tumor growth, perfusion and oxygenation. Rat DS-sarcomas were treated with either TOOKAD-PDT (2 mg/kg, i.v., immediate illumination) or one of the control treatments (sham-treatment, illumination without photosensitizer, or photosensitizer without illumination). The light source was an infrared-A irradiator fitted with appropriate filters, so that the wavelengths applied (665-800 nm) included the absorption maximum of TOOKAD at 763 nm. Tumor volume was monitored for 90 days after treatment or until a target volume (3.5 ml) was reached. TOOKAD-PDT dramatically inhibited tumor growth with 92% of tumors not reaching the target volume within the observation period. In further experiments, tumor perfusion was assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry. Upon TOOKAD-PDT treatment, a rapid, pronounced decrease in perfusion was seen, down to levels corresponding to only 3% of initial values. Tumor oxygenation monitoring revealed parallel decreases, with levels corresponding to anoxia being reached. The significant anti-tumor effects presented in this report, taken together with the chemical and pharmacokinetic properties of the novel photosensitizer TOOKAD, underline the therapeutic potential of this approach in which flow stasis and induction of anoxia are key elements.

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