PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPEUTIC METHOD USING 5-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID ANDPRECURSORS THEREOF

摘要

A method of detecting and treating tissues and cells that preferentially accumulate a porphyrin following exposure to a biosynthetic precursor of the porphyrin, such as malignant and non-malignant tissue abnormalities and lesions of the skin; conjunctiva; respiratory, digestive and vaginal mucosa; endometrium and urothelium; nervous system, and for ablating endometrial tissue. As part of bone marrow rescuing autologous transplantation procedures, blood cells and bone marrow cells containing abnormal cells that preferentially accumulate porphyrin from biosynthetic precursors such as 5-aminolevulinic acid, can be returned to the patient after ex vivo contact with the precursor and photoactivation of the accumulated porphyrin. Alternatively, the patient can be treated with the precursor prior to removal of blood cells or bone marrow cells for ex vivo photoactivation.