Cytomorphological changes caused by hematoporphyrin derivative and photodynamic therapy

Cytomorphological changes caused by hematoporphyrin derivative and laser photoradiation were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. In clinical materials the changes of lung cancer cells after laser photoradiation were examined and mouse kidney sarcoma cells were studied by phase contrast microscopy, and electron microscopy. The changes showed swelling of cytoplasm, eosinophilic staining of cytoplasm and nucleolysis 10 minutes after commencement of photoradiation and subsequently vacuolization of cytoplasm and necrosis of cancer cells occurring 24 hours after photoradiation therapy. In a phase contrast microscopy study, halting of cellular movement 5 minutes after commencement of photoradiation and swelling of the cytoplasm began 10 minutes after commencement of photoradiation. An electron microscopy study showed that initial morphological changes occurred at the mitochondria and were followed by swelling of endoplasmic reticulum and decrease of free ribosome.