Repetitive 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy on human glioma spheroids.

The response of human glioma spheroids to repetitive 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) was investigated. In all cases, light fluences were kept below toxic thresholds to simulate conditions typically found at 1-2 cm depths in brain adjacent to tumor. Significant inhibition of spheroid growth was observed following multiple PDT treatments at sub-threshold light fluences. The effect appears to be insensitive to the treatment intervals investigated (weekly or bi-monthly). In all cases, suppression of growth was observed for the duration of treatment. Low fluence rates (< or = 5 mW cm(-2)) appear to be more effective than high fluence rates (25 mW cm(-2)). No evidence of PDT resistance was found in this investigation.