[5-Aminolevulinic acid esters based photodynamic therapy].

As exogenous ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) esters can induce the production and accumulation of endogenous photosensitizer PpIX (protoporphyrin IX) in tumor tissues more effectively, they have been the most active photosensitizer prodrug in PDT(photodynamic therapy) field. In this article, along with the procedure of ALA esters based PDT, some primary mechanism and experimental results were considered, which include: first, cellular uptake of ALA esters and its conversion into ALA; second, the production and accumulation of endogenous photosensitizer PpIX induced by eNdogenous ALA esters; last, the photosensitization of PpIX.