Photodynamic cancer therapy and its future potentials

Abstract

About 6 million people die of cancer every year in the world. Today, surgical operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly used methods in cancer treatment. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy methods cause serious side effects because they damage healthy cells as well as cancerous cells. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new therapeutic model that may provide an advantage to patients who are not suitable for surgical operations and traditional treatment methods. PDT is a minimally invasive treatment modality that provides selective cytotoxic activity against malignant cells. The basis of cancer treatment with PDT is the application of a photosensitizer, followed by light at the wavelength corresponding to the absorbance band of the photosentizer. PDT increases curing in early tumor stages and prolongs survival in patients who cannot be operated on. Since it has minimal healthy tissue toxicity, it is a therapy option with fewer side effects than other treatment methods.