Chlorin e6

Chlorin e6 (Ce6) is a second-generation photosensitizer with antitumor activity when used in conjunction with irradiation.

In a mouse model of implanted fibrosarcoma, Ce6 (2.5-10 mg/kg, i.v. with irradiation at 50-200 J/cm2) led to complete tumor loss following varying levels of irradiation[1].

A formulation including Ce6 was tested in a Phase I clinical study for patients with bronchogenic early superficial squamous cell carcinoma with positive results (40 mg/m², i.v. with laser irradiation at 100 J/cm²)[2]. The same dosing paradigm in a Phase II clinical trial for early stage lung cancer patients led to a complete response in 82.9% of patients[3].

References:

[1]. Katsumi T A, Aizawa K, Kuroiwa Y, et al. Photodynamic therapy with a diode laser for implanted fibrosarcoma in mice employing mono-L-aspartyl chlorin E6. Photochem. Photobiol, 1996, 64(4): 671-675.

[2]. Furukawa K, Okunaka T, Tsuchida T. A phase I clinical study of photodynamic therapy for early stage lung carcinoma using ME2906 and a diode laser system. Porphyrins, 1998, 7: 199-206.

[3]. Kato H, Furukawa K, Sato M, et al. Phase II clinical study of photodynamic therapy using mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 and diode laser for early superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Lung Cancer, 2003, 42(1): 103-111.