Hematoporphyrin is a medical term used to describe a derivative of the hemoglobin molecule. The word is pronounced as [heem-uh-toh-pawr-uh-fer-in], with the stress on the third syllable. The spelling conforms to the English phonetic system, with the letters representing the sounds of the word as pronounced. The prefix "hema" refers to blood, while "porphyrin" denotes an organic compound with a ring structure. Hematoporphyrin is used in medical diagnosis and treatment, especially in detecting certain types of cancerous cells.
Hematoporphyrin is a compound that is derived from porphyrin, a type of organic molecule that contains a tetrapyrrole ring structure. Specifically, hematoporphyrin is a complex mixture of various porphyrin compounds that are derived from the breakdown of heme, a component of hemoglobin found in red blood cells.
Hematoporphyrin is an important substance in the field of medical diagnostics and treatment. It has a distinct fluorescent property, which has led to its use in the visualization of tumors during certain medical procedures. By introducing hematoporphyrin into the body and activating it with light, the fluorescence can help identify, localize, and monitor the growth and spread of cancerous cells. This technique is known as photodynamic therapy.
Furthermore, hematoporphyrin has been used in medicine in the form of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), which is a photosensitizing agent. HPD is administered to patients for the treatment of certain types of cancer, including esophageal, bladder, and lung cancers. Once absorbed by tumor cells, HPD can be activated by light, resulting in the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species that can damage and ultimately destroy the cancer cells.
In summary, hematoporphyrin is a mixture of porphyrin compounds obtained from the degradation of heme. Its fluorescence properties have led to its use in cancer diagnosis and treatment as a photosensitizing agent.
A purple substance resulting from the decomposition of hemoglobin; its composition is that of hematin without the iron.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Hematoporphyrin" is derived from the combination of two components: "Hemato-" and "-porphyrin".
1. "Hemato-": This prefix comes from the Greek word "haima" meaning "blood" or "red". It is commonly used in scientific terminology to refer to "blood" or something related to it.
2. "-porphyrin": This suffix originates from the Greek word "porphura", which means "purple". Porphyrins are a group of pigments that are closely related to hemoglobin and are responsible for their characteristic red color.
Thus, the term "Hematoporphyrin" combines these elements to describe a chemical compound associated with blood containing porphyrins.