Presence and Future of the Advanced Photodynamic Therapy in Bile Duct Carcinomas

Abstract

The effective local controls influence the patient survival in the bile duct carcinomas (BDC). In the non-resectable BDC, reliable non-surgical modality is expected and photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a useful option. PDT is a cancer-specific treatment radiated by a specific wave length of laser beam to the injected photosensitizer specifically accumulating in cancer cells. Weak point is a long-term photosensitivity by the applied photosensitizer for PDT. In the recent years, the new photosensitizer, which reduces period of light shield and its degree, has been developed only in the early stage lung cancers. We have started the basic research and clinical trial by using the new photosensitizer and the higher level of cytocidal effects or safety were shown in comparison with the previous PDT. We show these results and discuss a prospect of presence and future of PDT in BDC in the new era.