5-ALA Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer

Overseen By Alex Martinez

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: Fox Chase Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Steroids, Intravenous antibiotics

Disqualifiers: Symptomatic brain metastases, Active infections, HIV/AIDS, Recent cardiovascular events, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new cancer treatment that combines a special light-sensitive drug, 5-ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid), with low-dose radiation. The goal is to determine if this combination can effectively target and treat deeper cancer lesions while sparing healthy tissue. The trial is open to individuals with solid tumors that are advanced or have spread and have not responded to standard treatments. Participants must be able to undergo specific imaging tests and be free from severe infections or certain health conditions. As a Phase 1 trial, the research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people, offering participants the opportunity to be among the first to receive this innovative therapy.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial requires that all previous cancer therapies, including radiotherapy, major surgery, and investigational therapies, be stopped for at least 14 days before starting the trial treatment. However, the protocol does not specify if you need to stop other non-cancer medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this treatment is likely to be safe for humans?

Research has shown that 5-ALA, used in photodynamic therapy (PDT), is generally safe. Studies have found that it effectively targets cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. For instance, one study reported that 5-ALA PDT successfully treated 82.86% of stubborn skin conditions with few safety issues. Another study emphasized its ability to attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. These findings suggest that 5-ALA is usually well-tolerated and safe for treatments. However, as this is a Phase 1 trial, the primary focus remains on safety, making ongoing monitoring important. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising?

Researchers are excited about 5-ALA photodynamic therapy because it offers a novel approach to cancer treatment. Unlike traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which can affect both cancerous and healthy cells, 5-ALA is a radiosensitizer that specifically targets cancer cells, making them more susceptible to radiation. This treatment uses 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) taken orally, which is then activated by light to produce a therapeutic effect. The potential for increased precision in targeting cancer cells means fewer side effects and potentially improved outcomes compared to standard treatments.

What evidence suggests that 5-ALA Photodynamic Therapy could be an effective treatment for cancer?

Research has shown that 5-ALA, the investigational treatment in this trial, can effectively target cancer cells when combined with light therapy. Studies have found it works well against various cancers, such as colorectal and oral cancers, by inducing cancer cell death. In some cases, it has achieved success rates of over 90% for certain surface-level skin cancers. 5-ALA tends to accumulate in cancer cells, focusing the treatment on them and protecting healthy tissue. However, its effectiveness can vary based on the cancer type and the depth the light can penetrate. While the results are promising, further research is needed to fully understand its potential. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adults with advanced solid tumors resistant to standard therapy or without available standard options can join. They must have finished previous cancer treatments at least 14 days prior and be in stable condition, with good organ function and blood pressure. Participants need the ability to undergo PET/MRI imaging, not have active infections requiring IV treatment, no HIV/AIDS-related illness, not be pregnant or breastfeeding, and agree to use effective contraception.

Inclusion Criteria

My kidney function tests are within the required range.

I must be able to undergo PET/MRI imaging to participate.

I can take care of myself but might not be able to do heavy physical work.

Exclusion Criteria

You have a known history of porphyria, a medical condition that affects how your body produces certain substances.

You have a serious medical or mental health condition, or abnormal lab results, that could make it risky for you to participate in the study or affect the study results.

I am currently being treated for a minor infection with pills.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive orally-administered 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) as a radiosensitizer prior to low-dose radiation therapy

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• 5-ALA

Trial Overview

The trial is testing a combination of low-dose radiation therapy and systemic ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) on non-superficial lesions. This approach aims for targeted responses while sparing healthy tissue. It's based on promising but unpublished Chinese data showing safety and marked responses in some patients.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: 5-ALA Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

orally-administered 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) given as a radiosensitizer prior to low-dose radiation therapy (RT)

5-ALA is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as 5-aminolevulinic acid for:

• Actinic keratosis
• Visualization of malignant tissue during glioma surgery

Approved in European Union as 5-aminolevulinic acid for:

• Visualization of malignant tissue during glioma surgery

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

236

Recruited

39,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 36 patients, topical application of 20% aminolevulinic acid (ALA) followed by exposure to blue light resulted in an 88% complete clearance of actinic keratoses (AKs) after 8 weeks, demonstrating high efficacy.

The treatment was conducted in a multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled design, confirming that photodynamic therapy with ALA and blue light is a safe and effective option for managing multiple AKs on the face and scalp.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Photodynamic therapy of actinic keratoses with topical aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride and fluorescent blue light. Jeffes, EW., McCullough, JL., Weinstein, GD., et al.[2013]

5-Aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) is an effective photosensitiser used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating cancer and pre-malignant conditions, offering a significant advantage due to its rapid metabolism that reduces skin sensitivity after treatment.

ALA has a wide range of clinical applications in PDT and photodiagnosis, making it a versatile therapeutic option compared to synthetic photosensitisers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of 5-aminolaevulinic acid as a photosensitiser in photodynamic therapy and photodiagnosis. Kelty, CJ., Brown, NJ., Reed, MW., et al.[2019]

A 68-year-old man experienced severe hypotension (blood pressure dropping to 47/32 mmHg) after receiving 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) for bladder tumor surgery, highlighting a significant adverse effect associated with this drug.

Standard treatments for hypotension, such as phenylephrine and ephedrine, were ineffective, necessitating the use of adrenaline to stabilize blood pressure, suggesting that anesthesiologists should be cautious and consider 5-ALA as a potential cause of hypotension during procedures.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

5-Aminolevulinic acid-induced severe hypotension during transurethral resection of a bladder tumor: a case report. Yatabe, T., Marie, SL., Fukuhara, H., et al.[2020]

A single illumination of nodular tumors with red light after systemic administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) significantly slowed tumor growth, with a doubling time of 6.6 days compared to 1.7 days in untreated controls.

The most effective treatment involved illuminating the tumors twice, at both 1 and 2.5 hours after ALA administration, which resulted in a remarkable tumor doubling time of 18.9 days, likely due to the enhanced formation of protoporphyrin IX between illuminations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improvement of systemic 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy in vivo using light fractionation with a 75-minute interval. de Bruijn, HS., van der Veen, N., Robinson, DJ., et al.[2013]

In a mouse model of Lewis lung carcinoma, the combination of 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and hyperthermotherapy (HT) significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to HT alone, with tumor size increases being only 1.3 and 1.1 times in the HT+ALA groups versus much larger increases in control and HT groups.

ALA administration led to the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumors, enhancing the antitumor effect of HT, indicating that ALA can be an effective adjunct treatment in photodynamic therapy for tumors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antitumor effect of combination of hyperthermotherapy and 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Takahashi, K., Hasegawa, T., Ishii, T., et al.[2016]

The combination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) with 5% α-bisabolol significantly enhances the retention of 5-ALA in porcine buccal mucosa, achieving six times higher retention compared to 5-ALA alone after 4 hours, which is crucial for effective photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Histopathological analysis indicated that α-bisabolol alters the tissue morphology, likely contributing to improved retention of 5-ALA, suggesting that it could be a valuable adjuvant in PDT formulations for oral cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

α-Bisabolol improves 5-aminolevulinic acid retention in buccal tissues: Potential application in the photodynamic therapy of oral cancer. Quintanilha, NP., Dos Santos Miranda Costa, I., Freiman de Souza Ramos, M., et al.[2019]

Topical administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in varying concentrations showed promising results for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treating gut cancer in a mouse model, indicating its potential as a localized treatment option.

While topical application achieved satisfactory fluorescence levels in gut tissues, systemic administration resulted in higher fluorescence intensity, suggesting that while 5-ALA can be used topically, systemic delivery may enhance its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Topical versus Systemic 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Administration for Photodynamic Therapy of the Colon in B10.RBP Mice. Gil, M., Woszczynski, M., Regula, J., et al.[2019]

Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) at doses up to 60 mg/kg has minimal side effects in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, with only nausea and vomiting reported in 20% of cases and transient abnormal liver functions in nearly a quarter of patients.

The study found that protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) concentrations were significantly higher in tumors compared to other tissues, indicating that ALA can effectively enhance photosensitization for photodynamic therapy in treating gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Side effects and photosensitization of human tissues after aminolevulinic acid. Webber, J., Kessel, D., Fromm, D.[2016]

5-Aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) is a safe and effective agent for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treating gastrointestinal tumors, with a favorable safety profile as it only causes skin photosensitivity for 1-2 days.

In a study of 26 patients, ALA showed better tumor selectivity in the colon at higher doses (60 mg/kg), leading to significant tumor necrosis after treatment with red light, indicating its potential for larger lesions with further optimization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sensitization and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of gastrointestinal tumors with 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) induced protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). A pilot study. Mĺkvy, P., Messmann, H., Regula, J., et al.[2016]

5-Aminolevulinic acid is a highly specific photosensitizer that has been effectively used in diagnosing and treating urological cancers, particularly bladder cancer, through techniques like photodynamic diagnosis and therapy.

This compound works by exploiting the Warburg effect, a common characteristic of cancer cells, suggesting its potential application in treating a wide range of cancer types beyond urological cancers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Current status of photodynamic technology for urothelial cancer. Inoue, K., Fukuhara, H., Yamamoto, S., et al.[2022]

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) combined with photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) using violet and green LEDs was effective in treating peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer in a mouse model, showing significant necrotic areas in cancer nodules compared to controls.

The study found that violet and green LEDs generated more reactive oxygen species and had stronger anticancer effects than red LEDs, highlighting the importance of selecting the optimal light wavelength for effective treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

5-Aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy using light-emitting diodes of different wavelengths in a mouse model of peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer. Hino, H., Murayama, Y., Nakanishi, M., et al.[2013]

A systematic review of 77 studies on 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) showed that it is particularly effective against stomach cancer, indicating a cancer-type sensitivity to this treatment.

The review suggests the need for a standardized experimental protocol for 5-ALA PDT to improve consistency and reliability in future research and clinical applications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of In Vitro Anti-Human Cancer Experiments Investigating the Use of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) for Photodynamic Therapy. Shinoda, Y., Kato, D., Ando, R., et al.[2021]

5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) shows promise as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer, with significant localization in the perinuclear cytoplasm and nucleus of CPAE and PTK2 cells, indicating targeted areas for treatment.

Subcellular phototoxicity studies revealed that the nucleus and perinuclear regions are the most sensitive to ALA-induced damage, while the peripheral cytoplasm showed minimal sensitivity, suggesting a strategic approach for maximizing therapeutic effects while minimizing damage to healthy cells.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Subcellular phototoxicity of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA). Liang, H., Shin, DS., Lee, YE., et al.[2019]

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Our in vivo study suggests that ALA-PDT using blue or white LEDs may be more suitable for the treatment of CRC cells compared to conventional red LEDs.

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sciencedirect.com

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ALA-PDT achieves favorable outcomes with high clearance rates and good cosmetics. •. Response rates vary by lesion type, with relatively high recurrence rates ...

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Effect of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) in “ALADENT” Gel ...

ALAD-PDT induced marked apoptosis rates in both oral and pancreatic cancer cells. Elevated ROS production and appreciable levels of PpIX were ...

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nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41598-025-88173-3

Cancer stem cell populations are resistant to 5- ...

Although 5-ALA-PDT is effective at killing cancer cells, it has limitations. One limitation in vivo is the poor penetration of 630 nm light used ...

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aacrjournals.org

aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/59/4/901/505836/Improvement-of-Systemic-5-Aminolevulinic-Acid

Improvement of Systemic 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-based ...

A complete initial response rate of >90% has been reported for treatment of human superficial basal cell carcinoma with topically applied ALA-PDT (1, 2, 3).

6.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Photodynamic Therapy for Dermatologic Conditions - StatPearls

The ability of PDT to treat large areas of field cancerization, combined with excellent cosmetic outcomes and a favorable safety profile, ...

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sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572100024004757

Efficacy and safety of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic ...

5-ALA PDT shows 82.86 % overall efficacy rate in treating refractory LS with sustained 6-month outcomes. •. Treatment demonstrates good safety profile with ...

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5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy can ...

Our data clearly demonstrated that the ALA-PDT procedure exerts selective cytotoxicity for aggressive ATL cells and spares normal lymphocytes.