Photodynamic Therapy for Bronchogenic Early and Advanced Stage Bronchogenic Carcinomas

Photodynamic therapy utilizing Photofrin has proven to be an effective modality that can be used in the treatment of a wide variety of solid tumors and luminal cancers. Over the past decade, 285 patients (338 lesions) with central type lung cancers have been treated in our hospital. Overall complete remission was obtained in 50.3% of the 170 lesions, significant remission in 48.9% and no remission was obtained in 0.8%. However, among 161 early stage lesions CR was obtained in 139 (86.3%) and 48 cases were disease free in 2 to 228 months. We have been also studying the new clinical trial to expand the indication of PDT for the treatment of bronchogenic carcinoma. Twenty eight lung cancer patients were received the preoperative PDT for the purpose of either reducing the extent of resection or increasing operability. The initial purpose of PDT, i.e. either to reduce the extent of resection or convert inoperable disease to operable status, was achieved in 24 out of 28 patients treated. We conclude that PDT is efficacious for the advanced bronchogenic carcinoma combined with surgery as well as in the treatment of superficial lung cancer where complete remission may be achieved.