Abstract
It is known that low power laser irradiation causes many biological effects including improvement of topical blood perfusion. For chemotherapies of malignant diseases, if a low power laser irradiation is able to increase a blood flow within a tumor, it may lead to better concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in objective sites, enhancing antitumor effect. We have conducted a clinical examination to confirm this phenomenon for the lung cancer patients using He-Ne laser as a light source. Nineteen patients who had inoperable lung cancer evaluable bronchofiberscopically were offered this therapeutic modality. Histologically, they consisted of 5 lesions of adenocarcinoma, 2 lesions of small cell carcinoma, 11 lesions of squamous cell carcinoma and 2 of other histologic types. Undertopical anesthesia, He-Ne laser (MERA COLD LASER Senkou Ika, Tokyo, Japan, WL; 632.8nm, 8.5mW) was irradiated to the whole visible site of the tumor using quartz fiber through the channel of a fiberoptic bronchoscope. Fluence of irradiations were 6J/cm2 Simultaneously, conventional chemotherapeutic agent was administered intravenously. To evaluate the therapeutic effect, bronchofiberscopy was performed 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 days after therapy and assessed cytologically or histologically. Complete remission (CR) was obtained in 3 cases. Partial remission and no changes were found in 8 cases for eac h. Response time of CR cases was within 5 days. Basic study also must be necessary to elucidate the biological or cytological mechanisms.
