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Clinical Applications of Cancer PDT

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Photodynamic Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: From Basics to Clinical Practice

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Abstract

Still today photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a little known treatment modality in veterinary oncology even though there are some evident advantages especially for the treatment of animals: PDT can usually be done as an outpatient or day-case setting, it is convenient for the patient since usually one treatment is sufficient, and it has few to no side effects. PDT has several potential advantages over other local treatment modalities such as surgery and radiotherapy (RT): it is comparatively noninvasive, repeated doses can be given without the total-dose limitations associated with RT, and the healing process results in little or no scarring. In human oncology, PDT has been introduced more than 35 years ago, and since about 10 years, it is used more widely in the clinic. The treatment itself is quite easily feasible even though the PDT biology behind is rather complex. Clinical studies conducted in veterinary medicine describe the use of different photosensitizers applied systemically or topically as well as different systems of light delivery. These studies are presented in the current chapter. In veterinary oncology, the main indication is represented by the most common skin neoplasia in cats: cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Results are very promising. In the future, other indications might become treatable with PDT, especially considering the evolution of more selective photosensitizing drugs and newer, less expensive light systems. Possible indications include, but are not limited to, superficial canine transitional carcinoma, equine sarcoids, and equine squamous cell carcinoma as well as neoplasia in exotic animals.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Oncology and Imaging Center, Huenenberg, Switzerland

    Julia Buchholz

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  1. Julia Buchholz
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Correspondence to Julia Buchholz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of São Paulo, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Butantã, São Paulo, Brazil

    Fábio Parra Sellera

  2. Santos Aquarium, Veterinary Unit of Santos Aquarium, Ponta da Praia, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Cristiane Lassálvia Nascimento

  3. IPEN-CNEN/SP, Center for Lasers and Applications, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Martha Simões Ribeiro

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Buchholz, J. (2016). Clinical Applications of Cancer PDT. In: Sellera, F., Nascimento, C., Ribeiro, M. (eds) Photodynamic Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: From Basics to Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45007-0_10

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