Photodynamic therapy--an alternative pathway in the treatment of recurrent breast cancer.

Abstract

Validity of photodynamic therapy for treatment of recurrent breast cancer. Patients were intravenously administered with a metal-free haematoporphyrine derivative for tumor sensibilization. For irradiation both monochromatic and white light was used. Monochromatic light at a wavelength of 632 nm was supplied by an Argon-Dye laser, whereas a halogen lamp provided white light. Narrowband red light came into use in case of one patient. Therapy included recurrent diseases of breast carcinoma, especially disseminary skin metastases, local recurrences, and lymphangiosis. Classical pretreatment was ineffective for the therapeuted patient group. The healing potency of photodynamic therapy for our patient group is enumerated in detail. No differences in the therapeutic effect were seen using either Argon Dye laser or noncoherent light sources. Photodynamic therapy appears to be a valuable treatment to classical therapeutic intervention providing a selective destruction of tumor cells without further affecting life quality.