Patent ID: 6036941
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: A61K

Abstract:
A method for the diagnosis of tumors comprising administering an effective amount of at least one fluorescent substance chemically modified by introducing a quench group that quenches the properties of fluorescence and photosensitisation activity of said substance, said quencher being removable by enzyme activity of tumor cells with restoration of the properties of fluorescence and photosensitization activity of the unmodified substance to form a photosensitized biological substance by irradiating an involved part of the body with radiation at wavelengths between 400 nm and 800 nm and thereafter determining the presence of a tumor by detecting an increase in fluorescence wherein the chemically modified fluorescent substance is selected from the group consisting of Rose Bengal acetate, Rose Bengal phosphate, Rose Bengal monobutyrate and Rose Bengal dibutyrate.