Efficacy of low-dose mTHPC-PDT for the treatment of basal cell carcinomas

A Cell-Targeted Photodynamic Nanomedicine Strategy for Head and Neck Cancers

“…One blatant example is Foscan, an ethanol/propylene glycol formulation of the PS temoporf in, which failed to achieve FDA approval for treatment of H&N cancers due to poor tumor selectivity and serious burns arising from lingering skin photosensitivity. 14,15 In such formulations involving surfactants and organic excipients, PS accumulation in tumors is not by any controllable mechanism. Hence, after intravenous administration of such PS formulations, there is a "waiting period" (the drug−light interval) when the PS accumulating nonspecifically in healthy tissues is expected to clear off, while that accumulated within tumor tissues is expected to be retained due to poor lymphatic drainage.…”

The Photosensitizer Temoporfin (mTHPC) – Chemical, Pre‐clinical and Clinical Developments in the Last Decade†‡

“…Temoporfin has been investigated for its use against nonmelanoma skin cancers and a number of clinical studies and case reports have been published (see Table 3) (42,(473)(474)(475)(476)(477)(478)(479)(480)(481). These non-melanoma skin cancers -the most common malignancy among the Caucasian populationcomprise i.a.…”

“…Specifically for actinic keratoses, Bowen's disease and BCC PDT has been established as an alternative treatment to surgery, with ALA or MAL (methyl aminolevulinate) being the most widely applied photosensitizer (prodrug) (523,524). The largest study with temoporfin PDT on BCC comprised 117 patients with a total of 460 lesions treated (for these and all other clinical investigations compare Table 3) (477)(478)(479). In 2008 Betz et al published the initial study (478,479), which was later followed by the evaluation of the long-term outcomes in 2012 (477).…”

“…The largest study with temoporfin PDT on BCC comprised 117 patients with a total of 460 lesions treated (for these and all other clinical investigations compare Table 3) (477)(478)(479). In 2008 Betz et al published the initial study (478,479), which was later followed by the evaluation of the long-term outcomes in 2012 (477). The mean follow-up period was 42 months with a sustained clearance rate of 93.7% and an overall success rate of 90.7%.…”

“…Dosing of light is a challenge in PDT which is reflected in the general PDT review literature (449,548,550,551) but becomes also apparent from Table 3 listing temoporfin clinical trials which shows a broader variation compared to the drug dosage, though in many cases a fluence of 20 J cm À2 has been used. In some cases, lower (461,471) but also much higher fluences have been employed (460,477,478,481). The use of temoporfin with low light doses has been discussed as an option for PDT (136,552).…”