Aminolevulinic acid

Pronunciation

Definition 1

The active ingredient in a drug used to treat actinic keratosis (a skin condition that may become cancer). The drug is also being studied in the treatment of squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers and other types of cancer. When aminolevulinic acid is taken up by cells, including cancer cells, and then exposed to certain types of light, it becomes active and kills the cells. It is a type of photosensitizing agent. (NCI Dictionary)

Definition 2

A topically administered metabolic precursor of protoporphyrin IX. After topical administration, aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) which is a photosensitizer. When the proper wavelength of light activates protoporphyrin IX, singlet oxygen is produced, resulting in a local cytotoxic effect. (NCI Thesaurus)

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Aminohippurate Sodium

Sodium salt of aminohippuric acid. Aminohippurate sodium is used as a non-toxic diagnostic tool to measure effective renal plasma flow. At low…

Aminoglycoside Screening Method

A method to determine microbial susceptibility to high concentrations of aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Aminoglycoside antibiotic

A substance that works against many types of bacteria and includes streptomycin, gentamicin, and neomycin. An aminoglycoside antibiotic is used to treat…

Aminoglutethimide

An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors. Aminoglutethimide is used to decrease the production of…

Aminogenistein

A compound that inhibits the Protein-Tyrosine Kinase Activity of p56lck.

Aminocaproic Acid

A synthetic lysine derivative with antifibrinolytic activity. Aminocaproic acid competitively inhibits activation of plasminogen, thereby reducing conversion of plasminogen to plasmin (fibrinolysin),…