Biochem/physiol Actions

Hexaminolevulinate (HAL) hydrochloride is a hexyl ester of 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a precursor to porphyrins including the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). Hexaminolevulinate is more lipophilic than ALA, and is 50–100 times more efficient than ALA at inducing PpIX, which accumulates preferentially in neoplastic cells. Hexaminolevulinate administration followed by light activation has been used for fluorescence cystoscopy to enhance detection of bladder cancer, in particular carcinoma in situ (CIS). Hexaminolevulinate is also being studied for use in cancer photodynamic therapy. Hexaminolevulinate followed by irradiation produced DNA oxidative damage and apoptosis.

Packaging

10, 50 mg in glass bottle