This invention relates to compounds and methods for treating
cancer. In various embodiments, the compound includes a heptamethine carbocyanine dye (HMCD) component, a
camptothecin derivative component, and a
linker moiety (L) connecting the HMCD component and the
camptothecin derivative component. In various embodiments, the method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound to a subject, thereby contacting a tissue of the subject with the compound such that the compound binds to the tissue; detecting the compound bound to the tissue, wherein the presence of the compound bound to the tissue is indicative of the
cancer in the subject; and delivering the compound to the tissue thereby treating the
cancer in the subject.