Abstract
This is the first report on the use of photodynamic treatment (PDT) for pituitary tumor in vivo. For this study, rat pituitary tumor (GH3) was subcutaneously implanted in nude mice, and pheophorbide-a (Ph-a) and white light were prepared. Despite the delay in the disappearance of Ph-a from the tumor, Ph-a in the pituitary gland rapidly decreased after intravenous administration. Through PDT, the tumor grossly disappeared, the plasma levels of rat growth hormone secreted from the tumor also remarkably decreased, and the development of giantism was inhibited.
These results indicate that PDT is effective against rat pituitary tumor in vivo, and suggest that if the interval between the time of injection of Ph-a and irradiation is selected, PDT for human pituitary adenoma may be applied without adversely affecting the pituitary gland.
