Published 1 July 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2459
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b2459

Editorials

Photodynamic therapy and cancer

Promising results need to be followed by development of more selective drugs

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Photodynamic therapy uses visible light, molecular oxygen (normally present in most tissues at adequate concentration), and an otherwise innocuous drug to destroy tumours.1 All three components are needed for the cytotoxic effect. Photodynamic therapy is licensed for the treatment of several cancers1 and age related macular degeneration2; it is also being developed for the treatment of infections.3 Photosensitising drugs may be given systemically or locally, but because the primary targeting is through precise direction of visible light from a laser or other source, the ultimate effect is local rather than systemic. This is important because, although it means that photodynamic therapy cannot cure disseminated disease, it underpins the selective targeting of this treatment and lack of generalised toxicity.

The photosensitising drug is given first, and after a time interval of between a few hours and four days—to allow the maximum concentration differential to develop between the tumour and surrounding . . . [Full text of this article]

Stanley B Brown, professor of biochemistry 1, Sally H Ibbotson, clinical senior lecturer in photobiology2

1 Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, 2 Photobiology Unit, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY

s.b.brown@leeds.ac.uk


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