LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE IN MALIGNANT AND NORMAL TISSUE IN MICE INJECTED WITH 2 DIFFERENT CAROTENOPORPHYRINS

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was used to characterise the localisa tion of an intravenously administered trimethylated carotenoporphyrin [CP(Me)(3)] and a trimethoxylated carotenoporphyrin [CP(OMe)(3)] in an intramuscularly transplanted malignant tumour (MS-2 fibrosarcoma) and healthy muscle in female Balb/c mice, 3, 24, 48 and 96 h post injecti on. The fluorescence was induced with a dye laser pumped by a nitrogen laser, emitting light at 425 nm. The fluorescence spectra were record ed in the region 455-760 nm using a polychromator equipped with an ima ge-intensified CCD camera. The tumour/peritumoral muscle ratio was abo ut 5:1 for CP(Me), and about 6:1 for CP(OMe)(3) in terms of the backgr ound-free fluorescence intensity, which peaked at about 655 nm. By inc luding the endogenous tissue fluorescence, the contrast was further en hanced by a factor of approximately 2.