Effect of vaginal microbial infections on the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy for vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) is a precancerous condition with significant potential for malignant transformation. 5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) is considered to be a novel approach to treat VAIN. Recent studies have shown that an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota can affect the progression of VAIN. Thus, the effect of imbalanced microbiota on the efficacy of 5-ALA-PDT for treating VAIN needs to be determined. The findings of this study demonstrate that 5-ALA-PDT is a clinically effective and safe treatment for VAIN, and the vaginal microbiota’s status is a key factor affecting the efficacy of 5-ALA-PDT for VAIN.