title: The effect of Radachlorin® PDT in advanced NSCLC: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Palliative effect of PDT in advanced NSCLC has been proven. Radachlorin® is a second generation photosensitizer that has quicker pharmacokinetics than first generation photosensitizers. Although there are reports describing Radachlorin®, limited data are available regarding its advantages in PDT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Advanced NSCLC patients with central airway obstruction were enrolled. Patients who had comorbidity effects on drug metabolism were excluded. All patients received 1mg/kg of Radachlorin®, 4 h before light irradiation. 200 J/cm² of laser was irradiated during 11 min 6 s. Bronchial toileting was performed the following day. A PFT was performed before and after PDT. The primary treatment outcome was improvement of airway obstruction, which was evaluated according to bronchoscopic findings and improvement of FEV1. Secondary treatment outcomes included the rate of PDT-related complications, one year survival rate and progression free survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients were enrolled between June 2010 and May 2011. Their median age was 58.5 years and their baseline cancer stage was more than IIIA. 20% of patients showed successful results, 70% showed partially successful results and 10% showed an unsuccessful result. All patients showed improvement in their obstructive symptoms. The mean FEV1 before PDT was 1.70±0.69 L, while the mean FEV1 after PDT was 1.99±0.60 L (P=0.029). No patients had major complications. Eight patients were undergoing additional treatment after resolving airway obstruction. The one year survival rate after PDT was 70%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radachlorin®-based PDT is safe and effective treatment for relieving central airway obstruction in advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Wonjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Jung-wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents