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- Title
Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) as a Prodrug in Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer.
- Authors
Wachowska, Małgorzata; Muchowicz, Angelika; Firczuk, Małgorzata; Gabrysiak, Magdalena; Winiarska, Magdalena; Wańczyk, Małgorzata; Bojarczuk, Kamil; Golab, Jakub
- Abstract
Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is an endogenous metabolite normally formed in the mitochondria from succinyl-CoA and glycine. Conjugation of eight ALA molecules yields protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and finally leads to formation of heme. Conversion of PpIX to its downstream substrates requires the activity of a rate-limiting enzyme ferrochelatase. When ALA is administered externally the abundantly produced PpIX cannot be quickly converted to its final product - heme by ferrochelatase and therefore accumulates within cells. Since PpIX is a potent photosensitizer this metabolic pathway can be exploited in photodynamic therapy (PDT). This is an already approved therapeutic strategy making ALA one of the most successful prodrugs used in cancer treatment.
- Subjects
CANCER treatment; PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY; METABOLITES; PRODRUGS; ANTIBODY-directed enzyme prodrug therapy
- Publication
Molecules, 2011, Vol 16, Issue 5, p4140
- ISSN
1420-3049
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/molecules16054140