Photodynamic Laser Therapy (intravenous & interstitial)
Method
Combined application of natural and chemically derived highly specific photosensitizers and new
catheter-based laser technology for light activation of these photosensitizers to induce selective
destruction of tumor tissue. Additional low-dose chemotherapy with light activation of chemotherapeutic drugs.
The combination with hyperbaric oxygenation is an option to optimize therapeutic results because
oxygen radicals are responsible for tumor necrosis and apoptosis. Combination with immunotherapy
like macrophage activating factor GcMAF can be of benefit as well.
Natural Photosensitizers.
| Other Name | Laser Activator |
|---|
| Chlorophyll |
Chlorin E6 |
Red (660nm) |
|---|
| St. John’s wort |
Hypericin |
Yellow (589nm) |
|---|
| Curcumin |
Curcuminoids |
Blue (445nm) |
|---|
| Green Tea Polyphenol |
Epigallocatechingallate |
Infra Red (810nm) |
|---|
Immunological Effects of Photodynamic Therapy
- Production of reactive oxygen species and cell necrosis and apoptosis.
- Production of DAMP‘s (damaged molecular patterns).
- Vascular shut-down with tumor starvation.
- Increase of neutrophiles and dendritic cells, phagocytosis of tumor debris with immune stimulation.
- Dendritic cells take up tumor antigenes, become mature and initiate anti-tumor immune response.
- Immune reaction by production of different cytokines and chemokines in the tumor micro-environment.
PDT with Low Dose Chemotherapy
In case of big tumor masses or multiple metastases the natural photosensitizers of PDT are often not effective
enough. Experience has shown that tumors or metastases larger than 3-4 cm mostly cannot be destroyed by PDT
alone or maybe only with multiple follow-up treatments. So if possible, tumor mass has to be reduced by
surgical procedures. Secondly, chemotherapeutic drugs have a specific light absorption spectrum and their
efficacy can be enhanced by stimulation with appropriate laser light (using chemotherapeutic drugs as photosensitizers).
As a consequence, the drug´s dose can be reduced significantly and the well known side effects are alleviated.
Examples of this are Mitoxantron (activated by yellow and red light) which can be used successfully as a strong
photosensitizer for breast cancer or malignant melanoma, and Doxorubicin (activated by blue and green light) which
can be used successfully as a strong photosensitizer for many different cancers.