title: Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: Clinical perspectives.
abstract: Vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP), with use of verteporfin as a photosensitizer is one of the few therapies, which has been shown to effectively slow the progression of the "wet" form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and even to stabilize visual acuity over many years. Although, due to considerable advance of AMD treatment, it is currently not recommended in monotherapy of AMD, however, its combination with steroids and anti-angiogenic biologic drugs may reveal high therapeutic potential in the treatment of neovascular AMD. The future of VTP as a method of AMD treatment is development of new selective and targeted photosensitizer and combination of this method with other therapeutic strategies targeting cellular structures or pathways involved in AMD progression.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Center for Laser Diagnostics and Therapy, Bytom, Poland; Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; The Department of Medicine and Division of Medicine and Dentistry, Zabrze, Poland. Electronic address: akawczyk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawczyk-Krupka
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Center for Laser Diagnostics and Therapy, Bytom, Poland; Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; The Department of Medicine and Division of Medicine and Dentistry, Zabrze, Poland; College of Health, Beauty Care and Education, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bugaj
authors.affiliation: Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; The Department of Medicine and Division of Medicine and Dentistry, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potempa
authors.affiliation: Newnham College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wasilewska
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Center for Laser Diagnostics and Therapy, Bytom, Poland; Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; The Department of Medicine and Division of Medicine and Dentistry, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Latos
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Center for Laser Diagnostics and Therapy, Bytom, Poland; Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland; The Department of Medicine and Division of Medicine and Dentistry, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sieroń
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000077362:Verteporfin
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077362:Verteporfin
keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; Clinical trials; Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy; Verteporfin