title: Photodynamic therapy. Biology and clinical application.
abstract: PDT appears capable of treating small, superficial, endoluminal tumors. As the therapeutic light penetration currently goes no further than 1 cm, bulky neoplasms will remain resistant to this form of therapy. Second-generation photosensitizers that are activated by light wave-lengths with greater tissue penetration are under development. Similarly, solid-state lasers that require minimal maintenance and facilities are becoming available. Randomized trials comparing PDT with laser thermal ablation are underway. PDT will likely find a niche in the treatment of superficial tumors.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000188:drug therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects