Cytotoxic action of conjugates of alpha-fetoprotein and epidermal growth factor with photoheme, chlorines, and phthalocyanines

Covalently bound conjugates of cc-fetoprotein (AFP) and epidermal growth fa ctor (EGF) with photoheme (PH), 3-desvinyl-3-formylchlorine p(6) (Chl p(6)) , chlorine e(6) (Chl e(6)), aluminum disulfochloride phthalocyanine (PC(AI) ), and cobalt octa-4,5-carboxyphthalocyanine (teraphthal, TP(Co)) were synt hesized. Their molar ratios were 1:4 for AFP-cytotoxin conjugates (cf. 1:10 for AFP-TP(Co)) and 1:2 for EGF conjugates (cf. 1:1 for EGF-PC(A1)). Dark toxicity of both protein conjugates with PH, chlorines, and PC(AI) was much lower than their phototoxicity. Studies on Phototoxicity demonstrated that PC(A1) conjugates with AFP and EGF and also EGF-Chl p(6) were the most eff ective. The cytotoxic activity (CTA) of AFP-PC(A1) and EGF-Chl p(6) was 80% and of EGF-PC(AI) 64% higher than the CTA of the free drugs. Conjugates wi th TP(Co) were much more toxic on their activation with ascorbic acid (AA): in the presence of AA the CTA of AFP-TP(Co) and of EGF-TP(Co) was 19 and 6 1.1% higher, respectively, than the CTA of the free TP(Co).