New Developments in Photodynamic Therapy for Lung Cancers

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) consists of using a tumor specific photosensitizer and low power laser irradiation to induce production of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells. PDT is not like burning the cancer cells and a minimally invasive treatment. In Japan, PDT is recommended to treat early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer that is located around pulmonary hilar lesion. PDT was first approved for centrally located early lung cancers in 1994, and in 2010 PDT was approved for the improvement of the respiratory tract obstruction caused by advanced lung cancers, for the improvement of the quality of life (QOL), and for progressive lung cancer. Because smoking is the greatest cause of centrally located early lung cancers, most patients with this disease suffer from poor cardio-pulmonary function. As PDT exercises minimal invasiveness, it can be performed with safety. Also its high effectiveness has been proven by its clinical tests. Recently, a multicenter clinical trial was the world’s first trial of talaporfin-PDT for c-stage IA peripheral lung cancer. PDT was found to be a feasible and non-invasive treatment modality for early peripheral lung cancers. In the future, talaporfin-PDT could become a useful treatment modality for non-invasive adenocarcinomas, and the standard option for stage IA peripheral lung cancers.