| abstract |
Pheophorbide derivatives and alkaline salts thereof having the general formula (A): <IMAGE> (A) wherein R1 represents -CH=CH2, -CH(OH)CH3, -CH(OCH2CH2OH)CH3 or -CH(OCOCH3)CH3 R2 represents -CH3, -CHO or -CH2OH R3 represents =O, -OH or -OCOCH3 R4 represents -H, -COOCH3, -COOCH2CH2OH, -COOCH2CH2OCOCH3, or a -CONH- containing residue of an amino acid and R5 represents -COOH, -COONa or -COOCH3; provided, however, said derivatives and alkaline salts exclude pheophorbide, 9-desoxo-9-hydroxy-pheophorbide and pyropheophorbide. Dimeric pheophorbide derivatives and alkaline salts thereof represented by the general formula (B): <IMAGE> (B) wherein R1 through R5 are the same as in general formula (A), are useful for treating cancer having a strong preferential affinity for cancer cells over normal cells and exerting upon irradiation a destructive effect on such cancer cells. |