title: Application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its derivatives for photodynamic therapy in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the most widely used form of PDT in clinical practice. Topical application of ALA leads to overproduction of the endogenous photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). ALA-PDT is efficient treatment of superficial skin lesions, but not for thicker lesions. The main reason for this is suboptimal penetration of ALA molecules through cellular membranes and through stratum corneum of intact skin. Different approaches (formulations, mechanical and physical penetration enhancers, ALA derivatives) are currently used to increase the penetration. The content and distribution of ALA intracellularly and in tissues is difficult to measure, but PpIX content, on a relative scale, can be easily measured by fluorimetric assays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juzeniene
authors.forename: Petras
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juzenas
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moan
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D055100:Optical Fibers; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D011524:Protoporphyrins; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; C028025:protoporphyrin IX