Diagnostic agent for tumor

Abstract

It is to provide a tumor diagnostic agent and a tumor determination method enabling not only determination of the presence or absence of a tumor in a subject, but also determination of whether the tumor is a malignant tumor or a benign tumor, which can be used simply at low cost with reduced side effects and burden. 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or its derivative, or a salt thereof is orally administered at a dose of 5 to 7 mg in terms of ALA per kg of body weight, and a urine sample 4 to 12 hours after the administration is collected. Porphyrins and creatinine in the urine sample are quantitated, and based on the value (nmol/gCre) obtained by dividing the amount of porphyrins by the amount of creatinine, a distinction among an individual without a tumor, an individual with a benign tumor, and an individual with a malignant tumor is determined. The presence or absence of a malignant tumor in a subject can be clearly determined by administering 1 to 3 mg of ALAs in terms of ALA per kg of body weight.

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