Methyl aminolevulinate
Methyl aminolevulinate is a cream applied to sun-damaged skin or a superficial basal cell carcinoma and then activated with red light, clearing precancerous and early skin cancers with better cosmetic results than surgery or freezing.
Overview
Methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy has been approved in Europe since 2001 for actinic keratosis, superficial and nodular basal cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease, and in the United States since 2004 (Metvixia) for thin actinic keratoses of the face and scalp. Clearance rates for superficial basal cell carcinoma approach those of surgery in randomised trials with fewer scars, though recurrence over five years is somewhat higher, so guidelines reserve it for low-risk lesions and for patients with many lesions or poor healing. Pain during illumination is the main drawback. Galderma markets it.
A lipophilic ester of aminolevulinic acid that abnormal keratinocytes convert to protoporphyrin IX; red light three hours later generates singlet oxygen that destroys the lesion.
1.Methyl aminolevulinate slips into a pocket on its target.
Approvals
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2004 | Thin non-hyperkeratotic actinic keratoses of the face and scalp, with red light photodynamic therapy |
Trials
topTrials recruiting now
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Latest papers
topQuery for this drug: (TITLE:"Methyl aminolevulinate" OR ABSTRACT:"Methyl aminolevulinate" OR TITLE:"Metvix" OR ABSTRACT:"Metvix" OR TITLE:"Metvixia" OR ABSTRACT:"Metvixia" OR TITLE:"MAL" OR ABSTRACT:"MAL") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Methyl aminolevulinate, not a curated reading list.