title: The potential of photodynamic therapy to treat esophageal candidiasis coexisting with esophageal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in recent years to deal with fungal infections because of the prevalence of fungi resistance to drugs. However, PDT for gastrointestinal fungal infection has not been reported. This study was conducted to assess the potential of PDT to deal with esophageal candidiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two male patients with histological evidence of esophageal candidiasis coexisting with esophageal cancer were included in this retrospective study. Both patients were treated with PDT. This treatment was repeated at least 1month after the initial PDT if the patient still had residual cancer or esophageal candidiasis. Short-term efficacy was evaluated on the basis of endoscopy and histology findings. Further follow-up data were obtained from endoscopy results or telephone conversation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The esophageal candidiasis located 21-24cm and 25-28cm from the incisors of case 1 reached complete remission after one and two PDT sessions, respectively. The esophageal cancer coexisting with esophageal candidiasis located 21-24cm from the incisors reached complete remission after two PDT sessions. No recurrence was found at a 14-month follow-up. The esophageal cancer located 30-35cm from the incisors reached partial response after three PDT sessions. Both of the esophageal candidiasis and the coexisting esophageal cancer at 23-26cm from the incisors of case 2 reached complete remission and the esophageal cancer at 34-37cm from the incisors reached complete remission after one PDT session. No recurrence was found at a 24-month follow-up. There were no serious adverse events found in either of the two cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this preliminary study indicate that PDT may be a potential method to deal with esophageal candidiasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laser Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: qiuhxref@126.com.
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: maoyp301@126.com.
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Laser Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: guyinglaser@sina.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Laser Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: jianguozhu301@126.com.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Laser Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: 25wy@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Laser Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: zengj301@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Laser Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: laser301@163.com.
authors.forename: Naiyan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: liuqs301@sina.com.
authors.forename: Qingsen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. Electronic address: sunny301ddc@126.com.
authors.forename: Yunsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004724:Endoscopy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006415:Hematoporphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006415:Hematoporphyrins; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C052552:photocarcinorin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: Esophageal cancer; Esophageal candidiasis; Photodynamic therapy