Managing malignant disease in patients with porphyria.

Certain types of porphyria have an increased incidence of malignant disease. In addition, patients with all forms of porphyria may develop malignant disease as a 'normal life event'. The investigation and treatment of porphyric patients with malignant disease requires specific precautions to minimize the risk of an acute porphyric attack, and to ensure optimum treatment of the malignancy. We briefly review the biochemical basis, clinical features and current management of porphyria in cancer patients.