Photodynamic therapy for pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the status of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of cancers of the pancreas.


METHODS
Original and review articles, editorials, and case reports published primarily in English and listed in Medline/ISI up to October 2006 or identified by a manual search have been reviewed in an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of PDT action and clinical application of PDT in the treatment of pancreatic cancers.


RESULTS
Photodynamic therapy represents a novel treatment of pancreatic malignancy; it produces local necrosis of tissue with light after administration of a photosensitizing agent. Evidences from in vivo and in vitro results have shown that PDT significantly decreases pancreatic cancer cell growth, destroys pancreatic carcinoma, and prolongs the survival of patients with unresectable pancreatic malignancy, and also show that PDT has disadvantages and limitations for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Photodynamic therapy can be an effective treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer, but more extensive preclinical and clinical trials are needed for further improvement in the clinical application of PDT, especially in avoidance of complications during PDT.
Fan
Bo-Guang
BG
Centre for Gastrointestinal Disease, Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang, China. fanboguang@gmail.com
Andrén-Sandberg
Ake
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents