title: The palliative role of PDT in recurrent advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: case series.
abstract: We report on the application of photodynamic therapy in the management of recurrent advanced carcinoma of the nasopharynx. A selected cohort of 7 patients, only suitable for palliative therapy, was offered this modality to assess the palliative role of PDT. All 7 patients had at least 2 previous recurrences, which were managed with surgery and chemoradiotherapy but ultimately failed to respond. PDT was offered after careful discussion at a multidiscipline meeting. The photosensitiser "mTHPC" was introduced intravenously 96 h prior to delivering the light with nasoendoscopic guidance. Six patients' symptoms were reduced markedly post photodynamic therapy. Five patients have to had another round of treatment which was found to be as effective as the first round in terms of controlling disease progression as well as symptoms. Magnetic resonance images showed variable reduction of tumour volume with the majority of the patients having moderate to significant response. Photodynamic therapy was very successful palliative therapy for this small group of recurrent advanced nasopharyngeal cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UCL Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: Syedda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jerjes
authors.forename: Tahwinder
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Upile
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008652:Mesoporphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008652:Mesoporphyrins; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C072269:temoporfin