Potentiating effect of beta-glucans on photodynamic therapy of implanted cancer cells in mice.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) combines a drug or photosensitizer with a specific type of light to kill cancer cells. The cellular damage induced by PDT leads to activation of the DNA damage repair, which is an important factor for modulating tumor sensitivity to this treatment. beta-Glucans are natural polysaccharides that bind complement receptor 3 on the effector cells, thereby activating them to kill tumor cells during PDT.

Autofluorescence of transplantable hepatoma A22 (MH-A22): prospects of tumor tissue optical biopsy.

Aim: Autofluorescence of experimental tumor (hepatoma A22 (MH-A22)) was employed to discriminate the optical differences between necrotic and non-necrotic tumor, hemorrhagic tumor and healthy tissue.

Methods: The experiment was performed ex vivo using the transplantable tumor from the right haunch of hybrid mice (C57Bl/CBA). Blue LED light (lambda em=405 nm) was applied for autofluorescence excitation and fibre optics based spectrofluorimeter was used for spectra detection.