Photodynamic Therapy for Cancers: A Clinical Trial of Porfimer Sodium in Japan

• Published in: Cancer science Vol. 84; no. 11; pp. 1209 - 1214
• Main Authors: Kato, Harubumi, Horai, Takeshi, Furuse, Kiyoyuki, Fukuoka, Masahiro, Suzuki, Shigeru, Hiki, Yoshiki, Ito, Yoshiaki, Mimura, Seishiro, Tenjin, Yoshio, Hisazumi, Haruo, Hayata, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.1993; Japanese Cancer Association; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Argon dye laser; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Cervical cancer; Cervix; Dihematoporphyrin Ether - therapeutic use; Dyes; Esophagus; Excimer dye laser; Female; Gastric cancer; Health risk assessment; Hematoporphyrin Derivative - therapeutic use; Humans; Japan; Lung cancer; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - therapy; Patients; Photochemotherapy - adverse effects; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photodynamic therapy; Photofrin; Photoradiation therapy and photosensitizing agent; Photosensitivity; Remission; Solid tumors; Treatment with physical agents; Treatment. General aspects; Tumors; Asia; Japan; Human; Follow up study; Treatment efficiency; Clinical trial; Malignant tumor; Photosensitizer; Phototherapy
• ISSN: 0910-5050; 1347-9032; 1349-7006; 1876-4673
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1993.tb02823.x

Photodynamic therapy utilizing Photofrin has proven to be an effective modality that can be used in the treatment of a wide variety of solid tumors and luminal cancers. An argon pumped dye laser or excimer dye laser was used to deliver 630 nm light via quartz fibers passed through the biopsy channel subsequent to i.v. injection of photosensitizer. In this study, 64 patients with superficial cancers were treated in this manner but only 58 patients, including 21 with roentgenographically occult lung cancer, 8 with stage I lung cancer, 5 with esophageal cancer, 12 with gastric cancer, 8 with cervical cancer and 4 with bladder cancer were evaluable. Complete remission was obtained in 48 out of 58 cases (82.8%). There was no serious complication except skin photosensitivity, which was seen in 13 patients. We conclude that photodynamic therapy is efficacious in the treatment of superficial cancers where complete remission may be achieved.