Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel approach in the treatment of carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract. This review defines PDT, discusses means of photosensitization and considers the mechanisms by which PDT causes cell death of the target tissue while at the same time avoid damage to normal tissues. Additional considerations include the time of PDT application, activation of the photosen...

ATX-s10 is a novel and second-generation photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). In order to conduct clinical trials of ATX-s10-PDT and/or extend its clinical applications, it is very important to elucidate the mechanisms of the action of ATX-s10-PDT. We examined the apoptic response against ATX-s10-PDT using a Bcl-2 or Bcl-2 mutant overexpressing cells. Using fluorescent microscopy, AT...

PURPOSE To clarify the association between cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) gene polymorphisms and the response to photodynamic therapy (PDT) in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS One hundred and thirty-seven patients with PCV were enrolled. The patients were treated with PDT and followed up for more than 6 months. Retreatments were performed every 3 months as needed based o...

PURPOSE To study whether corticosteroids protect photoreceptors when combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a laser-induced model of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS PDT was performed in 36 Brown-Norway rats 2 weeks after laser induction of CNV. The expressional change of several cytokines and chemokines in the CNV lesions after PDT was measured by real-time PCR in combination...

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is now an approved therapeutic modality, and induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) following subcurative PDT is of concern as VEGF may provide a survival stimulus to tumors. The processes that limit the efficacy of PDT warrant investigation so that mechanism-based interventions may be developed. This study investigates VEGF increase following subcurat...

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses light-activated drugs to treat diseases ranging from cancer to age-related macular degeneration and antibioticresistant infections. This paper reviews the current status of PDT with an emphasis on the contributions of physics, biophysics and technology, and the challenges remaining in the optimization and adoption of this treatment modality. A theme of the review...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Photodynamic therapy causes direct cytotoxicity to malignant cells within a tumor. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can also have both direct and indirect effects upon various non-malignant components of the tumor microenvironment. This action can lead to PDT-mediated angiogenesis and inflammation, which are emerging as important determinants of PDT responsiveness. STUDY D...

OBJECTIVES Comparing the overall and differential effects of psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT) versus cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD). DESIGN Patients with a primary SAD (N = 47) were randomly assigned to PDT (N = 22) or CBT (N = 27). Both PDT and CBT consisted of up to 36 sessions (average PDT 31.4 and CBT 19.8 sessions). Assessments took place at waitlist:...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Standard treatments are not available for hilar nonresectable cholangiocarcinoma (NCC). It is unknown whether combination therapy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) plus systemic chemotherapy is superior to PDT alone. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 68 patients with hilar NCC treated with either PDT plus chemotherapy (PTD-C) or PDT monotherapy (PDT-M). The primary endpoint was ...