STUDIES OF RHODAMINE-123 - EFFECT ON RAT PROSTATE-CANCER AND HUMAN PROSTATE-CANCER CELLS IN-VITRO

The effect of the lipophilic, cationic dye, Rhodamine-123 (Rh-123), on prostate cancer in rats, and on three tumor cell lines in vitro is re ported here. The general toxicity of Rh-123 in mice has been found to be minimal. Lobund-Wistar (L-W) rats with the autochthonous prostate c ancer of pollard were treated for six doses with Rh-123 at a dose of 1 5 mg/kg subcutaneously every other day. Microscopic examination of the tumors revealed cellular and acinar destruction. The effectiveness of Rh-123 as a cytotoxic agent was tested by clonogenic and viability as says in vitro with three human prostate cancer cell lines. Severe (60- 95%) growth inhibition was observed following Rh-123 exposure for 2-5 days at doses as low as 1.6 mu g/ml in all three prostate cancer cell lines. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.