Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Español

hexyl 5-aminolevulinate

(HEK-sul 5-uh-MEE-noh-LEH-vyoo-LIH-nayt)
A substance that is used to find and kill tumor cells. It enters tumor cells and becomes activated when exposed to a special type of light. A chemical reaction causes the cells to produce fluorescent light and die.
Search NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms