Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methylaminolevulinate (MAL) has demonstrated high efficacy, minimal side effects, and improved cosmetic outcome in the treatment of its EU-approved clinical indications, i.e. actinic keratoses (AKs), basal cell carcinoma, and Bowens disease. In addition, PDT with MAL or 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is approved in the US for the treatment of AK. However, besides anti-tumoral activity, PDT has also demonstrated various anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious effects as well as those on the metabolism of connective tissue, keratinization of normal keratinocytes and maturation processes of sebaceous glands and hair follicles. These findings have expanded the spectrum of possible applications of PDT that now encompasses infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal) disorders, epidermal and dermal inflammatory diseases, tumors of lymphocytes, adnexal diseases and premature skin aging due to sun exposure. However, the findings obtained so far must be considered in most off-label indications only preliminary and more detailed studies are required to clarify the role of PDT beyond the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer. In addition, possible advantages over standard treatments remain to be clarified.
Keywords: ALA/MAL photodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, skin cancer
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials
Title: A Critical Reappraisal of Off-Label Indications for Topical Photodynamic Therapy with Aminolevulinic Acid and Methylaminolevulinate
Volume: 5 Issue: 2
Author(s): Calzavara-Pinton Piergiacomo, Arisi Mariachiara, Sereni Elena and Ortel Bernhard
Affiliation:
Keywords: ALA/MAL photodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, skin cancer
Abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methylaminolevulinate (MAL) has demonstrated high efficacy, minimal side effects, and improved cosmetic outcome in the treatment of its EU-approved clinical indications, i.e. actinic keratoses (AKs), basal cell carcinoma, and Bowens disease. In addition, PDT with MAL or 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is approved in the US for the treatment of AK. However, besides anti-tumoral activity, PDT has also demonstrated various anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious effects as well as those on the metabolism of connective tissue, keratinization of normal keratinocytes and maturation processes of sebaceous glands and hair follicles. These findings have expanded the spectrum of possible applications of PDT that now encompasses infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal) disorders, epidermal and dermal inflammatory diseases, tumors of lymphocytes, adnexal diseases and premature skin aging due to sun exposure. However, the findings obtained so far must be considered in most off-label indications only preliminary and more detailed studies are required to clarify the role of PDT beyond the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer. In addition, possible advantages over standard treatments remain to be clarified.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Piergiacomo Calzavara-Pinton, Mariachiara Arisi, Elena Sereni and Bernhard Ortel, A Critical Reappraisal of Off-Label Indications for Topical Photodynamic Therapy with Aminolevulinic Acid and Methylaminolevulinate, Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials 2010; 5 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488710791233572
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488710791233572 |
Print ISSN 1574-8871 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1876-1038 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Dendrimers in Therapy for Breast and Colorectal Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Modulation of the Type I Interferon Response Defines the Sensitivity of Human Melanoma Cells to Oncolytic Measles Virus
Current Gene Therapy Co-targeting EGFR and Autophagy Impairs Ovarian Cancer Cell Survival during Detachment from the ECM
Current Cancer Drug Targets Proteomics, and Metabolomics: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for the Presurgical Screening of Thyroid Nodules
Current Genomics A Prooxidant Mechanism for the Anticancer and Chemopreventive Properties of Plant Polyphenols
Current Drug Targets The Modulation of Pain by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors 7 and 8 in the Dorsal Striatum
Current Neuropharmacology Involvement of Cytoskeleton in AhR-Dependent CYP1A1 Expression
Current Drug Metabolism Identification of New Inhibitors for Human SIRT1: An in-silico Approach
Medicinal Chemistry Effect of Environmental Contaminants on Mammalian Testis
Current Molecular Pharmacology Glutamine, Glucose and other Fuels for Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Crosstalk between IGF-1R and other Tumor Promoting Pathways
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cancer Cell Reprogramming: Stem Cell Differentiation Stage Factors and An Agent Based Model to Optimize Cancer Treatment
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology The Effects of 1,3,5-trisubstituted Indole Derivatives on Cell Growth, Apoptosis and MMP-2/9 mRNA Expression of MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Cisplatin Properties in a Nanobiotechnological Approach to Cancer: A Mini-Review
Current Cancer Drug Targets Inhibition of TGF-β Signaling in Tumor Cells by Small Molecule Src Family Kinase Inhibitors
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Protein Phosphatase 1 and Its Complexes in Carcinogenesis
Current Cancer Drug Targets Patent Selections:
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Immunomics in Skin Cancer - Improvement in Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapy Monitoring
Current Proteomics Therapeutical Relevance of MAP-Kinase Inhibitors in Renal Diseases: Current Knowledge and Future Clinical Perspectives
Current Medicinal Chemistry Prostate Cancer Horizons in the Development of Novel Anti-Cancer Strategies
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Cancer Agents