Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality for a variety of cancers. Since no ideal photosensitizer is available yet, new photosensitizers are being sought. A new concept of PDT is the use of endogenous photosensitizers. ALA is a metabolite in heme synthesis. It is a precursor of protoporphyrin IX, a potent photosensitizer. After administration of ALA it is transformed by the cells to protoporphyrin IX. The goal of our study was to examine dark toxicity of ALA and its phototoxic potential in two different human cell lines.

Date Published: 1 March 1994
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 2078, Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer, (1 March 1994); doi: 10.1117/12.168677

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2078:
Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer
Giulio Jori; Johan Moan; Willem M. Star, Editor(s)