Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer
May 22, 2007 by Gloria Gamat
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
A new cancer drug (photosensitizer drug) triggered by a laser light has been successfully proven to kill cancer cells alone.
The process known as photodynamic therapy wherein once the light activates the new drug, it produces a reactive form of oxygen which then destroys the cancer cells only and sparing the healthy neighboring cells.
“The process really is about controlling the drug’s ability to produce this reactive form of oxygen, explains Dr. Zheng.
“For the first time, using mouse models and on separate cells, we have shown that it is possible to limit the collateral damage to surrounding normal cells using this approach.”
The research work was conducted by a team from Ontario Cancer Institute at Princess Margaret Hospital which they described in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“This is an exciting step in the fight against cancer”, said Dr. Wilson. “This process should greatly enhance the therapeutic window, making tumors much more susceptible for PDT damage than normal cells and tissues.”
Find more details from the full report.
Photodynamic Therapy For Cancer (PDT)
This treatment by light, unlike ultraviolet, infrared and the highly concentrated light of the laser, is said to offer a unique solution for those suffering from cancer as it does not require hospitalization, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy.
The types of cancer currently being treated by PDT in clinics around the world include Melanoma, Brain, Head, Neck, Oesophagus, Lung, breast, Stomach, Pancreas, Liver, Colon, Ovarian and Prostrate. Pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratoses) are also said to be treatable using PDT. This therapy can be used to treat not only superficial tumors but large tumors as well and is not contraindicated if other therapies, such as chemo, radiation, etc., are utilized concurrently with it.
There is on-going research into the possibility of addressing other types of cancer. Research into other new types of photosensitizing agents is also being carried by Russian pharmaceutical company Radapharma which has developed Radachlorin (Photostem, PhotoFlora), which is a chemically treated form of Spirulina. And in places like the Ukraine, where PDT is well-accepted, herbs like St John’s Wort are proving to be of particular research interest.
The Leeds Centre for Photobiology and PDT and the National Medical Laser Centre at the University College of London, PDT is also being studied in non-oncology related illnesses including the treatment of atherosclerosis and both rheumatoid and inflammatory arthritis, among other diseases.
The author concludes that a study for the treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration with PDT was performed in 22 centres in Europe and the US resulted in stable or improved vision in 61% of patients treated with PDT with virtually no side-effects.
i have just been diagnosed with stage 1 cancer of the nasopharynx and have not decided to do radiation because of the side effects such as dry mouth and mucositis.
I am from India my brother is suffering from recurrent cancer of the Orophyrnx – Squamous cell carcinoma , I would be very grateful if u help me with the list of treatment centres around Asia, Europe or USA for treatment with Photodynamic therapy (PDT). If u can suggest the best centre for this treatment