Malignancy photosensitizers are diagnostic or treatment agents that are used in conjunction with a specific light source to detect or treat certain cancers in the body, for example, the diagnosis of bladder cancer, the treatment of esophageal cancer.
The agent is typically taken up by cells where it is administered (for example, hexaminolevulinate is administered directly into the bladder and taken up by epithelial cells in the bladder wall), and then either converted into photoactive (light-sensitive) compounds or activated by light. These light-sensitive compounds or the actual agent accumulate preferentially in malignant (cancerous) cells. Exposure to light produces free radicals, specifically reactive oxygen species (ROS) that result in cytosis (cell death).
Each agent must be used in conjunction with a specific light detector or a light source, for example, hexaminolevulinate must be used in combination with the Karl-Storz Photodynamic Diagnostic D-Light C (PDD) System (...