Phototherapy, photochemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy: unapproved uses or indications

Breast Cancer and Current Therapeutic Approaches: From Radiation to Photodynamic Therapy

“…Direct exposure to non-ionizing radiation for therapeutic use (natural light, UVB or UVA radiation) known as a phototherapy is usually applied for treatment of skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis or vitiligo. However, it has also found its place in other medical areas, with particular applications in psychiatry in the treatment of internal depressions, sleeping changes, or the circadian rhythm (Ledo & Ledo, 2000). The physical and chemical "approaches" may also be combined together to ensure higher therapeutic efficiency, or work together for diagnostic purpose.…”

“…The energy of photons absorbed by the photosensitizer is generally used for transformation of oxygen into highly-reactive intermediate oxygen radicals. The main advantage of this approach is the combination of three inoffensive entities which together create a highly toxic conjunction, and so it has also found applications in the treatment of a wide range of malignancies (Ledo & Ledo, 2000). By its nature, PDT is a flexible and versatile therapeutic approach depending on the nature of the photosensitive compound, its concentration and incubation time, on the wavelength of light radiation, fluence rate and light dose, the time between drug administration and its activation (Kuliková et al, 2010), as well as on the histological origin of tissue and the oxygen pressure in it (Agostinis et al, 2002).…”

Chapter 13. Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) for Oral Infections

“…A good example of this therapy includes the use of a UV lamp to treat newborns with jaundice where light triggers the release of a chemical reaction that allows the body to eliminate the yellow pigment (photosensitizer) characteristic of the disease. 27 Since the advent of laser lights in the past century, the possibilities of the therapeutic use of light have expanded in all areas of science. According to their interaction with the irradiated tissue, lasers can be classified into two major groups: surgical lasers, or lasers operating at high power, and non-surgical lasers, also known as therapeutic or lasers that operate at low power.…”

“…Animal models have shown that concentrations of photosensitizer and energy densities used to cause damage to microorganisms have minimal effects on host tissues. 27 Furthermore, Soukos et al 62 evaluated the effect of chlorin e6 conjugated to pentalysine associated with red light to kill P. gingivalis in the presence of epithelial cells. The study showed that it was possible to selectively eliminate P. gingivalis without causing significant damage to skin cells.…”

Photo-induced DNA cleavage by (heterocyclo)carbonyl oxime esters of anthraquinone

“…Photodynamic, 1,2 photodiagnostic, 3 and photochemotherapy 4 are in the main themes of genetherapy. Development of new chemical leads for photogenetherapy often requires compounds that can cleave DNA or RNA under photolytic conditions.…”