2016 Volume 25 Issue 11 Pages 895-904
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using talaporfin sodium together with a semiconductor laser is a promising new treatment strategy for malignant brain tumor.
PDT was initially approved for treating early-stage lung cancer and was then extended to treating malignant brain Tumor. An investigator-initiated clinical study was completed in 2013. A total of 27 patients were enrolled and 22 patients were included in the efficacy analysis. In all, 13 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma showed a progression-free survival of 12 months, a progression-free survival at the site of laser irradiation of 20 months, a 12-months survival of 100%, and an overall survival of 24.8 months. Further analysis of 11 patients treated in Tokyo Women’s Medical University including five eloquent, two near-eloquent and four non-eloquent locations showed four on-site, two in-field and four distant recurrence patterns. Radiographycally measured changes commenced within 3 to 21 days after irradiation and ended within two months. The depth of radiographycally measured change was within 10 mm.
PDT is expected to be a new therapeutic strategy emphasizing additional, better local control rates for the treatment of malignant glioma as a tumor cell-selective, less invasive therapy for the infiltrated functional brain area.
