Term Name:	methyl 5-aminolevulinate hydrochloride
Synonyms:	5-methoxy-2,5-dioxopentan-1-aminium chloride, methyl 5-amino-4-oxopentanoate hydrochloride, methyl 5-amino-4-oxovalerate HCl, methyl 5-amino-4-oxovalerate hydrochloride, methyl 5-aminolevulinate HCl, methyl aminolevulinate HCl, methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride, methyl delta-aminolevulinate HCl, methyl delta-aminolevulinate hydrochloride
Definition:	The hydrochloride salt of methyl 5-aminolevulinate. A prodrug, it is metabolised to protoporphyrin IX, a photosensitizer, and is used in the photodynamic treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (including basal cell carcinoma). Topical application results in an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX in the skin lesions to which the cream has been applied. Subsequent illumination with red light results in the generation of toxic singlet oxygen that destroys cell membranes and thereby kills the tumour cells.
Ontology:	ChEBI [CHEBI:60641]  ( EBI )