Clinical Photodynamic Therapy Review and the Brazilian Experience

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a simple and promising technique indicated for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer. Although multicenter research trials have proved its success, PDT is not as much disseminated as surgery andcryotherapy approaches are.A light-activated substance (a photosensitizer) is usually topically administered. By irradiating the sensitized region with specific wavelengths and appropriated light dose, reactive oxygen species take place, which oxidize molecules and destroy tumor cells. This review article presents not only the base principles of PDT, but also a unique experience Brazil-wide, which reached other countries in Latin America. This initiative was funded by the Brazilian government via the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), involving private companies and academia in a validation study of the treatment of both pre-malignant and malignant skin cancer lesions.PDT protocol evolution is presented, including details that made the technique highly efficient and placed this experiencein a larger context.