Photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid: A new diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical aid for neuroblastoma

In vitro study demonstrates that neuroblastoma cell lines accumulate photosensitizing protoporphyrin IX after 5-ALA treatment and undergo apoptotic cell death following light activation. Photocytotoxicity correlated with intracellular PpIX concentrations, suggesting potential for ALA-PDT as both a diagnostic tool and therapeutic approach in pediatric neuroblastoma management.