Use of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of refractory carcinoma in situ
Benson, R.C.
Der Urologe. Ausg. a 30(3) 158-161; Discussion: 161-162
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-2592 PMID: 1871933 Document Number: 376243
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new and innovative approach to the treatment of malignant disease. This treatment modality involves administration of a photosensitizer, which is retained in malignant tissue, followed by exposure of that tissue to light corresponding to one of the absorption bands of the drug, with resultant cell death. Several photosensitizers are currently under study, but haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) is the drug that has been used almost exclusively in clinical urological trials. Both direct and indirect methods have been used to document the preferential concentration or retention of HPD in malignant urothelium. Although this drug is not a perfect tumour localization aid, it is perhaps the best that has thus far been studied for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Over the past decade of investigation, PDT has become established to the point that it is now being tested in phase II and III trials against standard and approved drugs for the treatment of noninvasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.