Effects of photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolevulinic acid on cultured human adenomyosis-derived cells

Objective: To evaluate the potential of photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on human adenomyosis-derived cells compared with endometrial stromal cells. Design: In vitro study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Hospital. Patient(s): Women with adenomyosis attending the University hospital. Intervention(s): Photodynamic treatment. Main Outcome Measure(s): Cell survival rates. Result(s): Treatment with both ALA and irradiation caused significantly decreased survival of cells derived from human adenomyosis compared with ALA or irradiation alone. The combination, of irradiation and ALA led to 79.3%. 68.0%, and 59.5% cell survival at 1.6, 4, and 8 J/cm2, respectively, whereas ALA and irradiation alone caused 92.8% and 97% survival, respectively. Conclusion(s): Photodynamic therapy using ALA caused extensive death of cells derived from human adenomyosis. Photodynamic treatment using ALA may be a new treatment for patients with adenomyosis uteri in the future.