ABSTRACT
The Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment based on specific accumulation of a photosensitizer in the malignant tissue and its subsequent irradiation at appropriate wave lengths induce the production of oxygen singlets responsible for peroxidation of cell organelles and cell death. A prototype of a 630 nm non coherent light source designed and constructed at the Centre of Electron Microscopy of The Cordoba National University allowed a successful application of PDT, in nonmelanoma skin tumors, for the first time in this Country. A topical treatment with 20% delta aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in aqueous solution was applied in 100 lesions of actinic keratosis of 27 patients. The results obtained in this study were the following: Complete Remission (RC) 84%, Partial Remission (RP) 10%, No Response (SR) 0% and No data (SD) 6%. In the latter group are included those patients who did not return for reevaluation. The high efficiency plus the excellent cosmetic response and low aggressiveness, make the PDT the method of choice treatment of this skin pathology. In addition to be no invasive and well tolerated, the prototype of light source used in this study, was remarkably effective.
Subject(s)
Keratosis/drug therapy , Levulinic Acids/therapeutic use , Photochemotherapy/instrumentation , Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use , Precancerous Conditions/drug therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Equipment Design , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Remission InductionABSTRACT
The Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment based on specific accumulation of a photosensitizer in the malignant tissue and its subsequent irradiation at appropriate wave lengths induce the production of oxygen singlets responsible for peroxidation of cell organelles and cell death. A prototype of a 630 nm non coherent light source designed and constructed at the Centre of Electron Microscopy of The Cordoba National University allowed a successful application of PDT, in nonmelanoma skin tumors, for the first time in this Country. A topical treatment with 20
delta aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in aqueous solution was applied in 100 lesions of actinic keratosis of 27 patients. The results obtained in this study were the following: Complete Remission (RC) 84
, Partial Remission (RP) 10
, No Response (SR) 0
and No data (SD) 6
. In the latter group are included those patients who did not return for reevaluation. The high efficiency plus the excellent cosmetic response and low aggressiveness, make the PDT the method of choice treatment of this skin pathology. In addition to be no invasive and well tolerated, the prototype of light source used in this study, was remarkably effective.
