title: Cell reactions and immune responses to photodynamic therapy in oncology.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive, highly selective method for the treatment of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation. It was clinically approved more than 30 years ago. PDT involves the selective uptake of a photosensitizer (PS) by neoplastic tissue, which is able to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon irradiation with visible or near-infrared (NIR) light. ROS induce destruction of target cells and damage of tumor-associated vasculature and activate an antitumor immune response, leading to tumor regression. The execution of this process is attained by different mechanisms, including host immune responses and activation of cell death pathways: apoptosis and necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Wrocław Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Wrocław Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Łysenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Wrocław Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Wrocław Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy