Abstract
Although major progress has been made in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy for the treatment of malignancy during the last 20 years, there has been little improvement in the survival of patients with recurrent or advanced head and neck cancer. Because of the ease and accessibility for surgery and their loco-regional biological behavior, head and neck cancers serve as an ideal model to test combined laser energy delivered via interstitial fiberoptics and chemotherapeutic agents activated by photo-thermal energy as an alternative, less invasive treatment for cancer. A number of investigators have shown that anthracyclines and cisplatin are likely candidates for light or heat activation in cancer cells. Maximum tolerated dose followed by photochemical and thermal activation via laser fiberoptics can improve treatment by sensitizing tumor response. The higher intratumor drug levels compared to systemic drug administration along with laser activation should also reduce systemic toxicity. In this article the authors analyze the concept of combining anti-cancer drugs and laser therapy and review the clinical application. In summary, the literature available suggests photochemotherapy with currently approved drugs and lasers may soon become an attractive alternative for cancer treatment.
Keywords: Photochemotherapy, combined intratumor therapy, cisplatin, laser-induced thermal therapy, lasers, fiberoptics, photosensitize tumors, chemotherapy, hypopharynx
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Update on Laser Photochemotherapy: An Alternative for Cancer Treatment
Volume: 11 Issue: 8
Author(s): Marcos B. Paiva, Jayne Joo, Marcio Abrahao, Joao Carlos Ribeiro, Onivaldo Cervantes and Joel A. Sercarz
Affiliation:
Keywords: Photochemotherapy, combined intratumor therapy, cisplatin, laser-induced thermal therapy, lasers, fiberoptics, photosensitize tumors, chemotherapy, hypopharynx
Abstract: Although major progress has been made in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy for the treatment of malignancy during the last 20 years, there has been little improvement in the survival of patients with recurrent or advanced head and neck cancer. Because of the ease and accessibility for surgery and their loco-regional biological behavior, head and neck cancers serve as an ideal model to test combined laser energy delivered via interstitial fiberoptics and chemotherapeutic agents activated by photo-thermal energy as an alternative, less invasive treatment for cancer. A number of investigators have shown that anthracyclines and cisplatin are likely candidates for light or heat activation in cancer cells. Maximum tolerated dose followed by photochemical and thermal activation via laser fiberoptics can improve treatment by sensitizing tumor response. The higher intratumor drug levels compared to systemic drug administration along with laser activation should also reduce systemic toxicity. In this article the authors analyze the concept of combining anti-cancer drugs and laser therapy and review the clinical application. In summary, the literature available suggests photochemotherapy with currently approved drugs and lasers may soon become an attractive alternative for cancer treatment.
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Cite this article as:
B. Paiva Marcos, Joo Jayne, Abrahao Marcio, Carlos Ribeiro Joao, Cervantes Onivaldo and A. Sercarz Joel, Update on Laser Photochemotherapy: An Alternative for Cancer Treatment, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 11 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152011797378742
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152011797378742 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
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