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Table 2 Summary of PDT of tumors with different photosensitizers and its outcomes

From: Implications of photodynamic cancer therapy: an overview of PDT mechanisms basically and practically

 

Photosensitizer

Absorption

Incubation time

 

References

Actinic keratosis

5-Aminolevulinic acid or ALA (Levulan)

Methyl aminolevulinate (Metvixia)

Aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (Ameluz)

635 nm

635 nm

635 nm

4–6 h

3 h

3 h

In comparison to cryotherapy, ALA-PDT is superior for individual lesions, and it has better cosmetic effects.

MAL-PDT is accompanied with lower pain and better patient tolerance.

[88], [72], [53], [95], [32]

Squamous cell carcinoma

5-Aminolevulinic acid or ALA (Levulan)

Methyl aminolevulinate (Metvixia)

635 nm

635 nm

4–6 h

3 h

More tumor destruction occurs in MAL (methyl aminolevulinic acid)-PDT compared to cryotherapy and in ALA-PDT compared to 5-FU

[43], [57], [54], [12], [110], [82]

Basal cell carcinoma

5-Aminolevulinic acid or ALA (Levulan)

Methylene blue

635 nm

640 nm

4–6 h

2 h

Topical imiquimod-PDT is the most effective treatment compared to MAL-PDT.

PDT has equal outcome to cryotherapy and surgery

[18], [26], [109], [22], [55], [99], [94], [44]

Esophageal carcinoma

Porfimer sodium (Photofrin)

5-Aminolevulinic acid or ALA (Levulan)

630 nm

635 nm

24–48 h

4–6 h

PDT has less morbidity and mortality compared to surgery. PDT is effective treatment of superficial esophageal cancers and approved by FDA as a palliative treatment in symptomatic advanced cancers

[93], [33], [75], [107], [27], [125], [128], [29], [123], [123], [67], [90]

Lung cancer

Porfimer sodium (Photofrin)

5-Aminolevulinic acid or ALA (Levulan)

N-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6, Laserphyrin)

630 nm

635 nm

664 nm

24–48 h

4–6 h

2–4 h

While surgery remains gold standard of treatment, PDT improves surgical outcomes and can be used as palliative treatment in lung cancer

[93], [112], [17], [62]

Head and neck, oral cancers

N-aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6, Laserphyrin)

Pheophorbide-a

Meta-tetra (hydroxyphenyl) chlorin (Foscan)

660 nm

666 nm

652 nm

4–5 h

3 h

48–96 h

Surgery is the best option for tumors > 2–3 mm, and PDT is useful in treatment of early-stage cancers.

Oral tissue is preserved in PDT.

[49], [108], [17], [2], [3], [46], [4], [70], [83]

Glioma

HPPH: 2-(1-Hexyl-oxyethyl)-2-devinylpyropheophorbide-alpha

665 nm

6 h

PDT and fluorescence-guided surgery is effective in improved survival compared to radiotherapy and surgery

[57]

Breast

5-Aminolevulinic acid or ALA (Levulan)

Zinc phthalocyanine

SnEt2 Purlytin

Motexafin lutetium (Lutex)

Porfimer sodium (Photofrin)

Mono-L-aspartyl chlorin

Meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl) chlorin (Foscan)

Verteporfin (Visudyne)

635 nm

675 nm

660 nm

720 nm

630 nm

664–667 nm

652 nm

690 nm

4–6 h

12 h

24 h

3–24 h

24–48 h

4 h

48–96 h

1 h

As a promising modality, more trials need to be conducted in use of PDT for breast cancer

[25], [111], [100], [121], [9]

Prostate

Meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl) chlorin (Foscan)

Pd-Bacteriopheophorbide (TOOKAD)

652 nm

763 nm

5 h

After a while

Vascular-targeted PDT has approved as a successful focal ablation with minimal side effects

[51], [92], [37], [89], [84], [36]