The results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in 48 patients bearing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 7 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin are described. Five- aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) was applied topically in two formulations. The first formulation contained 20% of 5-ALA in a base cream, and the second formulation (5-ALA composite cream), contained an additional 2% of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and 2% of edetic acid disodium salt (EDTA). The creams were left on the skin for 2 - 5 hours. Production of protoporphyrin (PP) was measured in situ by a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method. The results of fluorescence measurement clearly indicate that PP accumulation in tumors induced by the 5-ALA composite cream was markedly higher than that induced by the 5-ALA cream. The tumors were light-irradiated (600 - 720 nm) after 4 - 5 hours of cream applications, using the light delivery system Versa-Light by a light dose of 100 J/cm 2 . The clinically superficial BCC tumors were highly responsive to PDT; the overall result in BCC patients was an 85.4% complete response. Histological examination showed an initial edematous reaction, followed by necrosis and complete disappearance of the tumor. The superficial SCC tumors showed a 100% complete response after PDT. The ulcerated nodular SCC showed partial responses.