title: Treatment of astrocytoma grade III with Photofrin II as a radiosensitizer. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Astrocytomas are neoplasms that originate from glial cells. Anaplastic astrocytoma is classified as WHO III, with 27 % of the individuals with grade III astrocytoma living for at least 5 years even after treatment (radiation and chemotherapy). Photofrin II has been demonstrated to serve as a specific and selective radiosensitizing agent in both in vitro and in vivo tumor models.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case report presents a woman suffering from an inoperable astrocytoma WHO III since 2004. The patient was treated with radiation therapy and Photofrin II as a radiosensitiser. The patient underwent irradiation with 40 + 20 Gy boost. The patient was given a single intravenous dose of 1 mg/kg Photofrin II 24 h prior to the initiation of radiation therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient is still alive without any significant side effect with a follow up of 106 months. MRI shows no evidence of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The follow-up results are encouraging regarding the application of Photofrin II as an effective radiosensitizing agent in the treatment of inoperable WHO III astrocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Bar-Ilan School of Medicine, Poria, Israel, mschaffer@poria.health.gov.il.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ertl-Wagner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Batash
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pöschl
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Schaffer
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether