title: 5-Aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic detection and therapy of brain tumors (review).
abstract: With current treatment methods the prognosis for patients with aggressive brain tumors is dismal. Treatment failure is usually due to local recurrence of tumor. Intra-operative photodynamic detection (PDD) of tumor tissue and post-surgical photodynamic therapy (PDT) of the resection cavity may be of benefit. The utility of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been recognized in many different treatment fields over the past decade. Following administration of exogenous ALA, the endogenous photosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), accumulates in tumor tissue. A photodynamic effect occurs upon light activation of the target tissue. This article reviews the current preclinical and clinical studies and potential future applications of ALA and its ester-induced PpIX as a photosensitizing agent in the detection and treatment of brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital and Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oslo, Montebello, 0310 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Friesen
authors.forename: Geir Olav
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Hjortland
authors.forename: Steen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirschberg
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Engebraten
authors.forename: Jahn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nesland
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid