Objective-To determine whether feline cells were able to convert 5-aminolev
ulinic acid (ALA) to protoporphyrin IX (PplX) in vivo and in vitro, whether
IV administration of ALA to healthy cats resulted in adverse effects, and
whether PplX accumulated in a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of a cat.
Animals-4 healthy adult cats and 1 adult cat with a cutaneous SCC.
Procedure-In vitro production of PplX was determined by incubating Crandell
feline kidney cells with ALA. Effects of ALA administration and in vivo pr
oduction of PplX were determined by administering ALA (100, 200, or 400 mg/
kg of body weight) to healthy cats and collecting skin biopsy specimens for
up to 24 hours after drug administration. Blood samples were collected for
CBC and serum biochemical analyses, and necropsies were performed. Accumul
ation of PplX in a SCC was determined by treating a cat with a facial SCC w
ith ALA and collecting specimens of the tumor and adjacent grossly normal s
kin.
Results-Incubation of ALA with feline cells resulted in time- and dose-depe
ndent cytoplasmic accumulation of PplX in vitro. After IV ALA administratio
n, PplX was detected in ail tissues examined, with the highest fluorescence
intensity in epithelia and in squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor-to-skin f
luorescence intensity ratio was 5. All cats developed hepatotoxicoses.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results from this limited number of cats
suggest that ALA may be a useful photosensitizer in cats, but that doses >
100 mg/kg, IV, may not be safe.