Photodynamic therapy for urological malignancies: past to current approaches.
OBJECTIVE
Modern PDT for urological tumors is a potentially selective approach in which in situ photosensitization by a nontoxic drug, locally activated by light, generates cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, causing cell death. While urological clinical experience with PDT is largely limited to treatment for superficial bladder cancer, the advent of novel photosensitizers and technologies for treatment planning, light delivery and dosimetry, PDT for prostate and other urological cancers appears increasingly realistic.


METHODS
We reviewed the current literature on PDT for urological tumors, in addition to recent emerging data from our laboratory and elsewhere.


RESULTS
Remarkable progress has been made in the field of photochemistry and photobiology. Together with improved optical delivery and imaging systems PDT holds promise as an alternative, minimally invasive and potentially curative treatment for localized solid tumors as well as for palliative treatment for isolated, clinically problematic metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Current experience with photodynamic therapy using contemporary photosensitizing agents and light sources is mainly restricted to in vivo experimental models and early phase clinical trails. However, ongoing preclinical work and clinical trials indicate that safer and effective PDT treatments in uro-oncology are imminent.
Pinthus
Jehonathan H
JH
Prostate Cancer Center, University Health Network and Department of Medical Biophysics, Ontario Cancer Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Bogaards
Arjen
A
Weersink
Robert
R
Wilson
Brian C
BC
Trachtenberg
John
J
D005834:Genital Neoplasms, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*