Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality for cancer and premalignant lesions that utilizes a photoactive drug, the photosensitizer, in combination with light. PDT has become the treatment of choice for various malignancies. Furthermore, PDT is under investigation as a potential (palliative) treatment in situations where the possibilities of chemo-­ and radiotherapy are limited or exhausted. Since both photosensitizer and light have to be present to cause tissue damage, selective damage to the lesion can be achieved by controlling the presence of either one of them to the treatment area. Selective damage can be reached by i) choosing a photosensitizer that is mainly present in the lesion, or ii) preventing normal tissue from being illuminated. However, the success of PDT in reducing/removing (pre-­‐)malignant lesions has been variable. Treatment efficacy can range form non-‐observable effects to severe damage to normal tissue. Considering the complexity of both the execution of the treatment and damage pathways involved in PDT, some variability in treatment efficacy is not unexpected. However, given the fact that clinical applications of PDT that have proved successful remain small in number, more work is necessary to optimize therapeutic efficacy.

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H.J.C.M. Sterenborg (Dick)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
The work in this thesis was conducted at the Center for Optical Diagnostics and Therapy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Postgraduate school Molecular Medicine Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam. The publication of this thesis was further financially supported by: Erasmus MC; Ocean Optics; Rada-­‐pharma International BV; Quantib BV; ‘De Hippert’ Zaandam BV; Fagron BV.
hdl.handle.net/1765/51078
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

van Leeuwen- van Zaane, F. (2014, April 9). Fiber Optic Spectroscopy for the Optimization of Photodynamic Therapy. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/51078