CT-guided laser therapy in resistant human tumors: phase I clinical trials.

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy was performed on ten tumors in patients who did not respond to initial therapy and for whom no additional conventional therapy was available. A sensitizing agent (hematoporphyrin derivative [HpD]) was injected directly into each tumor under computed tomographic (CT) guidance to deliver high concentrations to the tumor and to minimize systemic toxicity. Three to 6 days after the injection, a clear Teflon sheath catheter was placed into the tumor under CT guidance. The tumor was exposed to red light (630-nm wavelength) through laser fiberoptics inserted in the sheath. The initial investigation confirmed the technical feasibility of CT-guided photodynamic therapy by means of intratumoral HpD injections and laser exposure through fiberoptics inserted in sheath catheters. The toxicity from a single treatment was minor, and the tumor response was encouraging.

Laser photochemotherapy: A less invasive approach for treatment of cancer

“…This concept, while attractive, has proved difficult to achieve in practice. Computerized tomography (CT)-guided laser therapy was used by Gatenby et al [40,41] for treatment of resistant human tumors in 10 patients with favorable results. Stereotactically induced lesions in the liver of piglets, using a Nd:YAG laser, were monitored for 4 months by serial ultrasound examinations with histological correlation by Godlewski et al [42] and Dachman et al [43].…”

Laser Photo Chemotherapy: An Alternative Treatment for Cancer

“…Nevertheless, the same author introduced the term interstitial laser hyperthermia in cancer treatment, which later on established itself as laser-induced thermal therapy, or LITT. Gatenby et al (1987) used computerized tomography (CT)-guided laser therapy for treatment of resistant human tumors in ten patients with favorable results. Steger et al (1992) used ultrasound imaging to monitor the percutaneous interstitial Nd:YAG laser treatment of ten patients with liver tumors and found ultrasound imaging to be a sensitive monitoring technique of thermal necrosis.…”

Interstitial photoablative laser therapy guided by magnetic resonance imaging for the treatment of deep tumors

“…Gatenby et al [46,47] in 1987 used computerized tomography (CT)-guided laser therapy for treatment of resistant human tumors in 10 patients with favorable results. Godlewski et al [48] and, later Dachman et al [49], stereotactically induced lesions in the liver of piglets with a Nd:YAG laser and followed these lesions for 4 months using serial ultrasound examinations and histological correlation.…”