Hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy of pituitary tumors: preclinical study in a GH4C1 rat tumor model

Objective Hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) is receiving greater interest as a potential treatment for a variety of tumors and nonmalignant disorders. PDT involves systemic administration of a photosensitizer that selectively accumulates within tumor tissue followed by focal light activation. In the presence of molecular oxygen, a photochemical reaction generates a reactive oxygen species that induces apoptosis in target cells. The purpose of this preclinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of hypericin-mediated PDT for treatment of pituitary adenoma in a rodent model. Methods Wistar-Furth rats were implanted with a pituitary adenoma rat cell line, GH4C1. Tumor masses were allowed to develop over 28 days; rats with tumors of comparable sizes were then assigned to three treatment groups: control (neither hypericin nor light); light only; and hypericin and light. Hypericin was administered in four doses (1 mg/kg) at 28-h intervals prior to light exposure, wherein those rats treated with light were exposed to a light source four hours after the last hypericin dose. Tumor size was measured up to 12 days after treatment. Results Over the short interval examined, hypericin-mediated PDT was not effective against large tumors greater than 1 cm³, but this treatment significantly slowed tumor growth for tumors less than 1 cm³. Histological evaluation and TUNEL assay of the treated tumor identified apoptotic clusters on the periphery of the PDT-treated specimens. Conclusions Hypericin-mediated PDT shows promise in its effectiveness in the treatment of residual small tumor rests.