Oesophageal cancer treated by photodynamic therapy alone or followed by radiation therapy

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology Vol. 6; no. 1-2; p. 167
• Main Authors: Calzavara, F, Tomio, L, Corti, L, Zorat, P L, Barone, I, Peracchia, A, Norberto, L, D'Arcais, R F, Berti, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.06.1990
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Carcinoma in Situ - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Female; Hematoporphyrin Derivative; Hematoporphyrins - therapeutic use; Humans; Light; Male; Middle Aged; Photochemotherapy
• ISSN: 1011-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/1011-1344(90)85086-C

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with porphyrins and red light is receiving increasing attention in the management of malignant tumours. At present PDT is primarily indicated for the treatment of superficial or early-stage lesions. At the Department of Radiotherapy and the First Institute of Surgery in Padova (Italy) more than 150 cases of tumours of different types have been treated using this technique. This paper briefly describes 21 cases of superficial oesophageal cancer. A complete response was observed in 11 of 21 cases. Radiation therapy appeared to be very effective as a salvage treatment of non-response patients.