Abstract
Our first phase II study on PDT with photofrin II showed an excellent effect on patients with ESLC who had a limited tumor extent over a small area (≤1 cm). The interium analysis in a second phase II study of PDT with an excimer dye laser in operable ESLC demonstrated that of the 17 eligible patients, 15 had a complete response rate (88.2%) and all 17 patients achieved an 86% survival rate at 3 years. The interium analysis suggests that PDT might become to be an effective alternative to surgery. Our study of the occurence of second primary tumors (SPT) in patients with ESLC treated with PDT ± radiotherapy (RT) suggested that RT has a tendency to increase the incidence of SPT. As a result, PDT may be recommended as the first endoscopic treatment for unresectable ESLC.
