Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Verteporfin" in English language version.
By itself, the clinically recommended dose of verteporfin is not cytotoxic. It produces cytotoxic agents only when activated by light in the presence of oxygen. When energy absorbed by the porphyrin is transferred to oxygen, highly reactive short-lived singlet oxygen is generated. Singlet oxygen causes damage to biological stmctures within the diffusion range, leading to local vascular occlusion, cell damage and, under certain conditions, cell death.
By itself, the clinically recommended dose of verteporfin is not cytotoxic. It produces cytotoxic agents only when activated by light in the presence of oxygen. When energy absorbed by the porphyrin is transferred to oxygen, highly reactive short-lived singlet oxygen is generated. Singlet oxygen causes damage to biological stmctures within the diffusion range, leading to local vascular occlusion, cell damage and, under certain conditions, cell death.