Antitumor immunostimulatory effect via cell-killing action of a novel extracorporeal blood circulating photodynamic therapy system using 5-aminolevulinic acid.

This study investigated whether intravenous administration of tumor cells killed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) had antitumor effects on distal tumors. Furthermore, a novel extracorporeal blood circulating 5-ALA/PDT system was developed. 5-ALA/PDT- (low or high irradiation) or anticancer drug-treated cells were intravenously administered to rats in a glioma cancer model.