Photodynamic therapy in colorectal cancer treatment: the state of the art in clinical trials.
BACKGROUND
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used in many different oncologic fields. Also in gastroenterology, where have been a few attempts to treat both the premalignant lesion and advanced colorectal cancer. This review aims to give a general overview of the PDT application to colorectal cancer in the field of clinical trials to emphasize its curative, and insufficiently exploited potential.


METHODS
Literature on PDT for colorectal cancer with the following medical subject headings search terms: colorectal cancer, photodynamic therapy, clinical trials was reviewed. The articles were selected by their relevance to the topic.


RESULTS
There are many positive and promising trial results from I to II/III phase for the use of PDT in colorectal cancer both in less advanced tumors as well as in the palliative therapy of advanced lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
PDT seems to be a safe and a feasible treatment option for colorectal cancer. Theoretical assumptions confirmed by many results of preclinical studies taking into consideration an increasing number of analyzed clinical trials, should lead to the development of optimized standards by using PDT in colorectal cancer treatment.
School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Batorego Street 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland. Electronic address: akawczyk@gmail.com.
Aleksandra
A
Kawczyk-Krupka
School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Batorego Street 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland; College of Health, Beauty Care and Education, Brzeźnicka Street 3, 60-133 Poznań, Poland.
Andrzej M
AM
Bugaj
School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Batorego Street 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
Wojciech
W
Latos
Medical University of Silesia, Poniatowskiego Street 15, 40-055 Katowice, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Zaremba
Department of Internal Diseases, 11 Listopada Street 48, 28-200 Staszów, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Wawrzyniec
School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Batorego Street 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
Aleksander
A
Sieroń
D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents
Cancer treatment; Clinical trials; Colorectal cancer; Photodynamic therapy