title: Photodynamic therapy by topical meso-tetraphenylporphinesulfonate tetrasodium salt administration in superficial basal cell carcinomas.
abstract: The efficacy of an originally developed photodynamic approach, using topical administration of tetraphenylporphinesulfonate as the photosensitizer, was evaluated in a series of 292 basal cell carcinoma lesions (less than 2-mm thick) in 50 treated patients. The lack of indication for conventional therapies was the main selection criterion. The photosensitizing agent (2% solution) was topically applied at 0.1 ml/cm2, followed by light irradiation with a dye laser emitting at 645 nm (120 or 150 J/cm2). After initial treatment, all lesions responded, with 273 (93.5%) complete responses. Recurrences were observed in 29 (10.6%). A second application of photoradiation was performed in 15 persistent lesions and 11 relapsed lesions, producing 19/26 complete responses. Our results suggest that this technique can be considered a promising alternative treatment modality in selected cases of superficial basal cell carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bandieramonte
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melloni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marchesini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zunino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lepera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Palo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011166:Porphyrins; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; C016136:tetraphenylporphine sulfonate