title: Photodynamic therapy using Photofrin and excimer dye laser treatment for superficial oral squamous cell carcinomas with long-term follow up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a very effective treatment for superficial malignancies that does not result in loss of normal tissue. Here, we report successful PDT treatment of superficial oral cancers and its clinical outcome with long-term follow up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four superficial oral squamous cell carcinomas were treated with PDT, and the effects were evaluated. Each patient received Photofrin (2mg/kg) intravenously 48h prior to light irradiation. Photoradiation was performed at doses of 100-150J/cm(2) using a 630-nm wavelength excimer dye laser.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six months after PDT, 30 patients (88.2%) showed complete responses while 9 patients (26.5%) had local relapses during long-term follow-up. The 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival rates were 76.5%, 84.6%, and 63.3%, respectively. Lesions with red patches had a significantly higher recurrence rate than lesions with white patches. Accurate evaluation of the extent of lesions and appropriate photoradiation were important in improving outcomes. Adverse events observed included sunburn and sequestrum formation of alveolar bone. No abnormal laboratory values or systemic complications were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT using Photofrin as the photosensitizer is an effective treatment modality for superficial oral carcinomas, with excellent healing and minimal side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan. Electronic address: tora@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toratani
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryouji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan; Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003116:Color; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether
keywords: Excimer dye laser; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Photodynamic therapy (PDT); Photofrin