CYTOTOXIC, NUCLEAR, AND GROWTH-INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF PHOTODYNAMIC DRUGS ON PANCREATIC-CARCINOMA CELLS

The light-activated drugs AlPcS(4) and T(4)MPyP were studied in a panc reatic carcinoma cell line for their effects on DNA integrity, cell di vision, proliferation, and survival. The micronucleus assay measured n uclear changes and also the number of actively dividing cells while, u nder similar conditions, the MTT assay measured cell survival. When tu mour cells were exposed to light, pre-treatment with AlPcS(4) induced more micronuclei than did T(4)MPyP at the same levels of cell division and survival. Both drugs showed a correlation between phototoxicity a nd changes to DNA integrity so establishing micronuclei formation as a n important indicator of photodynamic drug action on tumour cells.