title: Photodynamic therapy in treatment of cutaneous and choroidal melanoma.
abstract: Melanoma is a malignant, the most aggressive and dreaded skin cancer. This form of cancer arises from melanocytes and may grow rapidly and metastasize. Melanoma predominantly occurs in skin, but could also be found in the mouth, iris and retina of the eye. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, with a steeply rising incidence and a poor prognosis in its advanced stages. It is highly resistant to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, although modern biological therapies are showing some promise. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a novel effective modality of the treatment of skin cancers, opens up new possibilities in melanoma treatment also. Many experimental photodynamic therapy studies were performed. The results of many experiments indicate that that photodynamic therapy may be a promising tool for adjuvant treatment in advanced melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinics of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Center for Laser Diagnostic and Therapy, Medical University of Silesia, 15 Batory Str., 41-902 Bytom, Poland. Electronic address: akawczyk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawczyk-Krupka
authors.forename: Andrzej M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bugaj
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Latos
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zaremba
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sieroń
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents
keywords: Cancer therapy; Melanoma; Photodynamic therapy; Skin cancer