title: Photodynamic therapy of locoregional breast cancer recurrences using a chlorin-type photosensitizer.
abstract: Chest wall recurrences are a frequent problem in patients treated by mastectomy for breast cancer. Surgery and ionizing radiation are established treatment modalities in these cases. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) provides an alternative treatment modality using a photosensitizer and laser light to induce selective tumor necrosis. PDT was performed as compassionate use in 7 patients aged 57.6 years (+/-12.6 SD). A total of 89 metastatic skin nodes were treated in 11 PDT sessions. As photosensitizer meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC) was applied intravenously. Patients (n = 3) photosensitized with a drug dose of 0.10 mg/kg bodyweight were irradiated 48 hr after drug application at a lightdose of 5 J/cm(2). Patients (n = 4) were illuminated by an optical dose of 10 J/cm(2) 96 hr after photosensitization with 0.15 mg/kg. Laser light at a wavelength of 652 nm was generated by a diode laser and applied by a front lens light diffuser using a fluence rate of 20--25 mW/cm(2). PDT using m-THPC resulted in complete response in all patients. Response to treatment did not differ when using the 2 different drugdose protocols. Healing time depended mainly on the size of the illumination field but not on the lightdose. Pain score usually raised 1 day after PDT and lasted at higher levels for about 10 days. Healing time usually ranged between 8--10 weeks. Photodynamic technique offers a minimal-invasive, outpatient treatment modality for recurrent breast cancer on the chest wall with few side effects, high patient's satisfaction and with possible repetitive application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland. Pius.Wyss@fhk.usz.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dobler-Girdziunaite
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Degen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fehr
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008652:Mesoporphyrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008652:Mesoporphyrins; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C006969:chlorin; C072269:temoporfin