title: Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of atherosclerotic plaque: Lost in translation?
abstract: Acute coronary syndrome is a life-threatening condition of utmost clinical importance, which, despite recent progress in the field, is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. Acute coronary syndrome results from a rupture or erosion of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque with secondary platelet activation and thrombus formation, which leads to partial or complete luminal obstruction of a coronary artery. During the last decade, scientific evidence demonstrated that when an acute coronary event occurs, several nonculprit plaques are in a "vulnerable" state. Among the promising approaches, several investigations provided evidence of photodynamic therapy (PDT)-induced stabilization and regression of atherosclerotic plaque. Significant development of PDT strategies improved its therapeutic outcome. This review addresses PDT's pertinence and major problems/challenges toward its translation to a clinical reality.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Medical Photonics Group, LCOM-ISIC, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zellweger
authors.affiliation: Medical Photonics Group, LCOM-ISIC, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagnières
authors.affiliation: Medical Photonics Group, LCOM-ISIC, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van den Bergh
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marie-Noelle
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Giraud
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Laser; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizers; Restenosis; Theranostic