Photodynamic　therapy　(PDT)　is　a　new　and　developing　method　for　cancer　treatment　involving　the　preferential　uptake　of　a　photosensitizer　by　tumor　and　its　subsequent　activation　by　light　with　appropriate　wavelength.　Phthalocyanines　have　received　increasing　attention　as　photosensitizers　for　PDT　since　1985,　so　that　several　works　have　been　focused　on　this　area.　This　paper　gives　some　relationships　between　structures　and　photodynamic　anti-cancer　activities　of　phthalocyanines　based　on　51　related　references.　The　emphasis　is　directed　to　the　effects　of　central　ions　and　ring　substitutents　and　axial　ligands　on　the　PDT　activities　and　relative　physical　and　chemical　properties.　The　main　conclusion　is　that　the　amphiphilic　character　is　the　promising　factor　of　phthalocyanines　for　PDT.