Studies on the mechanism of action of a targeted chemotherapeutic drug in living cancer cells by two photon laser scanning microspectrofluorometry

In this study, we present a spectroscopic study of the entry pattern of a chemotherapeutic drug (AN-152) and its carrier hormone ([D-Lys(6)]LH-RH) into living cancer cells, with the help of our two-photon probes and a home-built localized microspectrofluorometer coupled with two photon laser scanning microscope (TPLSM). Due to the inherent localization ability of TPLSM, we were able to identify the drug and carrier location in different compartments of the cancer cells in vitro. The apparent doxorubicin-assisted nucleic accumulation of AN-152 suggests a possible nuclear action of the drug on cell proliferation. (C) 2001 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.