Improvement of tumor localization of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy and its application for tumor diagnosis

Curr Top Med Chem. 2012;12(3):176-84. doi: 10.2174/156802612799078883.

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic diagnosis of cancer are widely used in clinical fields. These are performed using photosensitizers. Many metalloporphyrin-related compounds have been developed as photosensitizers for use in PDT, and these tumor localization ability have been improved in recent research. Moreover, the precursor of porphyrin 5-aminolevulinic acid is used in fluorescence diagnosis using its tumor localization ability. In this review, these applications of photosensitizers in cancer therapy and diagnosis are summarized.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Metalloporphyrins / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Organ Specificity
  • Photochemotherapy / methods*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*

Substances

  • Metalloporphyrins
  • Photosensitizing Agents