Enhanced effects of aminolaevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy through local hyperthermia in rat tumours.

The possibility of enhancing aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) by simultaneous application of localised hyperthermia (HT) was evaluated. Treatments of rat DS-sarcomas included: (i) control, (ii) ALA administration (375 mg kg(-1), i.p.), no illumination, (iii) 'nonthermal' illumination, (iv) ALA-PDT: that is, ALA administration, 'nonthermal' illumination, (v) localised HT, 43 degrees C, 60 min (vi) ALA-PDT+HT: ALA administration with full spectrum irradiation resulting in ALA-PDT and HT. Tumour volume was monitored for 90 days or until a target volume (3.5 ml) was reached. No differences were seen between the first three groups, with all tumours reaching the target …