title: 5-Aminolaevulinic acid-induced photodynamic therapy and photodetection in Barrett's esophagus.
abstract: Barrett's esophagus is a precursor of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. This cancer has the fastest growing incidence of any solid tumor in the Western world. Surveillance of Barrett's esophagus is routinely undertaken to detect early malignant transformation. However, ablative endoscopic treatments are available and these can obliterate the abnormal epithelium, allowing neosquamous regrowth. Photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) is such a technique. In this non-thermal method of ablation, ALA is metabolized to produce the photosensitizer protoprophyrin IX. This, together with light and oxygen, produces local tissue destruction. Fluorescence detection using ALA has also been used to identify areas of dysplasia and thus enhance positive biopsy yield. The use of ALA in photodynamic therapy and photodetection is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Claydon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ackroyd
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid