Oncologic Photodynamic Therapy: Basic Principles, Current Clinical Status and Future Directions.

ABSTRACT: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved cancer therapy, based on a photochemical reaction between a light activatable molecule or photosensitizer, light, and molecular oxygen. When these three harmless components are present together, reactive oxygen species are formed. These can directly damage cells and/or vasculature, and induce inflammatory and immune responses. PDT is a two-stage procedure, which starts with photosensitizer administration followed by a locally directed light exposure, with the aim of confined tumor destruction. Since its regulatory approval, over 30 years ago, PDT has been the subject of numerous studies and has proven to be an effective form of cancer therapy. This review provides an overview of the clinical trials conducted over the last 10 years, illust

SUBMITTER: van Straten D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5332942 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature