Gastric cancer
- PDT can eradicate cancer for 80 % ofearly gastric cancer
- PDT can improve symptoms of advanced gastric cancer
Colon-rectal carcinoma
- PDT is especially indicated to colon-rectal adenocarcinoma and small cancer
- PDT can improve symptoms, such as tenesmus, pain and bleeding,of 55 percent of patients with unresectable colon-rectal carcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma
PDT can effectively eliminate obstruction of bile duct in patients with cholangiocarcinoma in hepatic hilum, treatment of which is very difficult with traditional methods.
Pancreatic carcinoma and cancer ofVater's ampulla
PDT, which is performed with inserting light-guiding fiber through endoscopy or percutaneously, can control development of pancreatic carcinoma and Vater's ampulla cancer.
Tumor in abdominal cavity
It was reported that PDT can effectively treat the postoperative recurrent cancer of rectum in pelvic cavity, recurrent colonic carcinoma with local metastasis and sarcoma in abdominal cavity.
Bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer)
In patients with stage 1 of bronchial carcinoma,5-year survival ratebrought by PDT was ashigh as 93 percent.
In advanced bronchial carcinoma, 55% of tumor mass shrinkaged, 49% ofimproved after PDT.
Bronchial bleeding
PDT can induce stopping of hemoptysis induced by various causes.
Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma
- Intraoperative application of PDT can eliminate tumor especially for patients with tumor which can notbe totally resected.
- The 2-year survival rate of 23 % was seen in 37 patients withmesothelioma, and the median survival was 61 months in patients with 1 and 2 stage of disease.
Brain tumor
PDT has a special effect to brain tumor, especially to glioma, because cells of brain tumor have high capacity to concentrate photosensitizer.
Tumors of genitourinary tract
Bladder cancer in situ can be eradicated by PDT. Seventy-one percent of advanced cases had got improvement after PDT.
Skin and subcutaneous tumor
PDT can effectively treat various cancer and metastatic cancer of skin and subcutaneous tissues.
Gynecologic tumor
PDT is effective for treatment of vaginocarcinoma, cervical cancer in situ, and metastatic vaginocarcinoma.
LIMITATION OF PDT
The light needed to activate most photosensitizers cannot pass through more than about one-third of an inch of tissue (1 centimeter). For this reason, PDT is usually used to treat tumors on or just under the skin or on the lining of internal organs or cavities . PDT is also less effective in treating large tumors, because the light cannot pass far into these tumors. PDT is a local treatment and generally cannot be used to treat cancer that has spread cancer.