A new, state-of-the-art cancer treatment is available at the Josephine Ford Cancer Center. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses advanced medical lasers combined with light-photoactivated drugs to destroy tumor cells without harming healthy tissues. Cancer patients now have the option of having a type of light therapy that destroys deadly cancer cells without hurting surrounding healthy tissue. The Josephine Ford Cancer Center was the first site to offer photodynamic therapy in Michigan and one of 52 sites in the United States.
What is Photodynamic Therapy?
Photodynamic therapy or PDT is the use of a powerful laser and a light-activated drug that treats certain types of cancer. This procedure involves injecting patients with a light-activated drug that targets cancer cells and, several days later, exposing the cancerous tissue to a laser. The difference between this laser and those seen in movies, is it creates light but not heat. The light "switches on" the drug, destroying the cancer.
What type of Cancers does PDT treat?
PDT is approved by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of advanced esophageal cancer and lung cancer, with FDA approvals pending for Barrett’s esophagitis, "wet" stage macular degeneration, and head and neck and skin cancers.
The Josephine Ford Cancer Center also offers many clinical research studies for patients with lung, esophageal, skin and head and neck cancers. Photodynamic Therapy is an important addition to traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. PDT can be performed with intraoperative surgery and more than one time if necessary. In many cases, PDT can be done on an outpatient basis.
How Does PDT Work?
PDT uses a laser and a light-activated drug that targets cancer cells. The drug is administered intravenously and within one to three days, concentrates in diseased cells. The drug remains inactive until exposed to certain wavelength of laser light delivered to the cancer site through a fiberoptic device. The light activates the drug, causing tumor cell breakdown with minimal damage to normal tissue.
What are the Side Effects?
The only side effect of PDT is photosensitivity to sunlight, causing redness and swelling of skin in exposed areas much like a sunburn. Depending on the drug used for PDT, patients are sunlight sensitive for 2 to 4 weeks after injection. Patients are given instructions when outdoors to wear sunglasses and full body clothing. At home and work window shades and curtains are closed to block sunlight exposure. Patients are able to work in sunlight "protected" rooms, watch TV, shop in an enclosed structure, go to movies and restaurants, work on computers, and be exposed to indoor lighting.
