A water soluble tri-cationic porphyrin-EDTA conjugate induces apoptosis in human neuroendocrine tumor cell lines

► Synthesis of tri-cationic porphyrin-EDTA conjugate (TMPy3PhenEDTA-P-Cl4). ► Treatment of small-intestinal neuroendocrine tumor cells with TMPy3PhenEDTA-P-Cl4. ► Treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma cell lines with TMPy3PhenEDTA-P-Cl4. ► Apoptotic cell death on MTC cells after treatment with TMPy3PhenEDTA-P-Cl4.