Laser-photo-radiotherapy in the treatment malignant tumors

Photoradiation therapy or, as more recently defined, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been effective in the treatment of several kinds of cancers, above all of the skin, lung, esophagus and bladder. It is based on the preferential retention by tumor and photosensitizing properties of certain porphyrins. We began to investigate this technique experimentally in 1978 and clinically in september 1982, with report of the initial results in 38 patients in 1985. In this paper we describe our more recent experience of PDT in 18 patients affected by different tumors and treated with a new double argon-dye laser system. These tumors included 8 carcinomas of the esophagus, 5 basal cell skin cancers, 2 carcinomas of the lung, 2 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and 1 early gastric cancer. Clinical results and technical problems of PDT are discussed.