A brief overview of photodynamic therapy in Europe

• Published in: Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 103 - 111
• Main Authors: Mitton, D, Ackroyd, R., MD (Dist), FRCS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Europe; European; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; History; Humans; Internal Medicine; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Photo-diagnosis; Photochemotherapy; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Europe; DHE; BD; Haematoporphyrin derivative; meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin; National Medical Laser Centre; Aminolaevulinic acid; Electron spin resonance; PPD; Superficial basal cell carcinomas; History; Yorkshire Laser Centre; Polyhaematoporphyrin; YLC; NMLC; Photo-diagnosis; percutaneous transluminal angioplasty; Protoporphrin IX; Low grade dysplasia; Argon plasma coagulation; Endoscopic mucosal resection; PHP; CLSM; HpD; Actinic keratosis; Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy; PDT; Photodynamic therapy; HGD; ESR; LGD; Bowen's disease; LIFS; PpIX; AK; EMR; National Institute for Clinical Excellence; European; Dihaematoporphyrin ether; mTHPC; APC; High grade dysplasia; ALA; NICE; sBCC; PTA; Confocal laser scanning microscopy
• ISSN: 1572-1000; 1873-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2008.04.004

Summary Photodynamic effect was a chance discovery early in the 1900s, demonstrating the lethal effects of light activated chemicals on living cells. Although the application of the principles of photodynamic effect to patients’ treatment and what became photodynamic therapy (PDT) was practiced in 1960s and 1970s, clinical trials were only started in the 1980s, following successful synthesis of clinically usable photosensitisers (drugs) and the manufacturing of light sources. We briefly review and highlight some of the landmarks of the development of clinical PDT in Europe.