SYNTHESIS OF FLUORINE ANALOGS OF NATURAL PORPHYRINS POTENTIALLY USEFUL FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF CANCER

Hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) or Photofrin II are used for photosen sitizer of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. However, these are co mplex mixtures of porphyrin derivatives. We have synthesized fluorine analogs of naturally important porphyrin derivatives, such as protopor phyrin and hematoporphyrin, which would be useful for diagnosis and th erapy of cancer. In this review, we wish to show our syntheses of thes e fluorine analogs and the localization of these porphyrins to tumor c ells and some tissues.