Issue 8, 2004
From the journal:

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

Hypericin as a potential phototherapeutic agent in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Appolinary Kamuhabwa,a   Patrizia Agostinis,b   Bisan Ahmed,c   Willy Landuyt,c   Ben Van Cleynenbreugel,d   Hein Van Poppeld  and  Peter de Witte*a  

* Corresponding authors

a Laboratorium voor Farmaceutische Biologie en Fytofarmacologie, Faculteit Farmaceutische Wetenschappen, K.U. Leuven, Belgium

b Afdeling Biochemie, Faculteit Geneeskunde, K.U. Leuven, Belgium

c Afdeling Gezwelziekten en experimentele radiotherapie, Faculteit Geneeskunde, K.U. Leuven, Belgium

d Dienst Urologie, Faculteit Geneeskunde, K.U. Leuven, Belgium

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the local or systemic administration of a photosensitizing drug that, upon light irradiation and presence of oxygen, results in tissue damage such as tumor destruction. Hypericin, a hydroxylated phenanthroperylenequinone, is obtained from Hypericum perforatum plants. Hypericin exhibits a high fluorescence quantum yield, and its presence in the tissue can easily be visualized. Interestingly, when instilled into the human bladders, hypericin selectively accumulates in the bladder carcinoma lesions, with the specificity and sensitivity of detecting CIS reaching up to 98.5 and 93%, respectively. Due to this selective accumulation of hypericin in bladder carcinoma lesions, the compound is now used as a fluorescent diagnostic tool for superficial bladder cancer. However, hypericin is also a photosensitizer with a potent photocytotoxic activity. Taken together, these data indicate that hypericin could be used for whole bladder wall PDT of superficial bladder tumors. This review focuses on the more recent in vitro and in vivo evaluation of hypericin as a photodynamic agent in the treatment of superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) bladder tumors.

Graphical abstract: Hypericin as a potential phototherapeutic agent in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B315586B
Article type
Perspective
Submitted
01 Dec 2003
Accepted
18 Feb 2004
First published
02 Apr 2004

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2004,3, 772-780

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Hypericin as a potential phototherapeutic agent in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

A. Kamuhabwa, P. Agostinis, B. Ahmed, W. Landuyt, B. Van Cleynenbreugel, H. Van Poppel and P. de Witte, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2004, 3, 772 DOI: 10.1039/B315586B

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