In vitro and in vivo comparison of argon-pumped and diode lasers for photodynamic therapy using second-generation photosensitizers

Background and Objective: Three prototype microchannel-cooled stacked diode array lasers were compared with the currently used conventional argon ion laser-pumped tunable dye lasers for suitability as light sources in photody namic therapy (PDT) treatment. Study Design/Materials and Methods: The PDT response of Chinese hamster ova ry (CHO-K1) cells in culture and SMT-F tumor bearing mice treated with chlo ro-aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanin (CASPc), benzoporphyrin derivative mon o-acid (BPDMA), and lutetium texaphyrin (Lutex) was determined using each l aser light source. Survival of the CHO cells was measured using a cloning a ssay. Tumor regression/eradication was used to assess response in the mice. Results: Both sources of laser light produced comparable PDT responses in t he two systems tested. Conclusion: It would be possible to replace the currently used argon ion la ser-pumped dye laser systems with the diode lasers tested. (C) 1998 Wiley-L iss, Inc.