Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of DVDMS-2 in Tumor-bearing Mice.

DVDMS-2 is a novel candidate for photodynamic therapy of tumors. The purpose of the present study was to assess the distribution and elimination of DVDMS-2 in mice bearing hepatoma 22 tumors. DVDMS-2 (1, 2 and 4 mg kg(-1)) was injected intravenously into the mice, extracted from biological tissues and quantified using a fluorescence assay. The data obtained were processed with WinNonlin pharmacokinetic software. The fluorescence assay established for DVDMS-2 quantification was a rapid, reproducible, sensitive and specific method with good linearity. The pharmacokinetics of DVDMS-2 in tumor-bearing mice conformed to a two-compartment model. DVDMS-2 accumulated in tumor tissue to a greater extent than adjacent tissues (skin, muscle) and sustained a relatively high-level concentration 12 to 24 h following administration, which may be the optimal treatment time point. In conclusion, DVDMS-2 selectively accumulated in tumor tissue and was eliminated at a rapid rate in tumor-bearing mice, suggesting that DVDMS-2 may have few side effects, including skin phototoxicity. The present study established the pharmacokinetic characteristics of DVDMS-2, which may be beneficial in future clinical study.