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. | |
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 | |
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 | |
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 | |
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. | |
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 | |
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 |