PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPEUTIC METHOD USING 5-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID AND OTHER PRECURSORS OF ENDOGENOUS PORPHYRINS

摘要

Methods of detecting and treating rapidly growing exogenous cells, such as Protista, or parasites, that preferentially accumulate a photoactivatable porphyrin in which 5-aminolevulinic acid or precursor thereof is administered to the patient, or contacted to the exogenous cells, in an amount sufficient to induce synthesis fluroescence and/or photosensitizing concentrations of a protoporphyrin IX in the exogenous cells, followed by exposure of the exogenous cells to light of photoactivating wavelengths.