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Photodynamic Therapy

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Handbook of Photonics for Biomedical Engineering

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically established treatment modality for a range of cancers. It utilizes the combined action of photosensitizer , light, and molecular oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly singlet oxygen, to eradicate malignant cells and tissues. The therapeutic outcome depends largely on the performance of the photosensitizer. For cancer treatment, only a few PDT drugs, including porfimer sodium, temoporfin, and aminolevulinic acid, have been clinically approved. Unfortunately, they still suffer from a number of drawbacks. As a result, development of new generations of photosensitizers that are more efficient and tumor selective, have a wider scope of action, and produce less side effect is under intensive investigation. In addition, various approaches have been actively explored to enhance the tumor-targeting property of photosensitizers. It is commonly believed that PDT exerts its antitumor effects through three different biological mechanisms. Firstly, the ROS generated through the photosensitization process can trigger apoptotic or necrotic response, leading to direct tumor cell death. Secondly, the photodynamic action can target the blood vessels so as to block the nutrient and oxygen supplies to the rapidly proliferating tumor cells. Finally, PDT can also enhance antitumor immunity which is important not only in killing the tumor cells but also in preventing recurrence. The treatment efficacy of PDT can further be improved in combination therapy where it is used together with drugs that are cytotoxic, anti-angiogenic, or immunogenic. This chapter aims to give an overview of the principle and development of this innovative approach for cancer treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong, China

    Wing-Ping Fong & Hing-Yuen Yeung

  2. Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong, China

    Pui-Chi Lo & Dennis K. P. Ng

Authors
  1. Wing-Ping Fong
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  2. Hing-Yuen Yeung
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  3. Pui-Chi Lo
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  4. Dennis K. P. Ng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wing-Ping Fong .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Aaron H.-P. Ho

  2. School of Electrical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

    Donghyun Kim

  3. Faculty of Engineering, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Michael G. Somekh

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Fong, WP., Yeung, HY., Lo, PC., Ng, D.K.P. (2014). Photodynamic Therapy. In: Ho, AP., Kim, D., Somekh, M. (eds) Handbook of Photonics for Biomedical Engineering. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6174-2_35-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6174-2_35-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6174-2

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