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Encyclopedia of Cancer pp 2876–2881Cite as

Photodynamic Therapy

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Synonyms

Photodynamic laser therapy; Photodynamic tumor therapy

Definition

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses the action of visible, low energetic light on a photosensitizer to activate its cytotoxic potential in a target tissue. PDT is a selective treatment modality since the photosensitizer shows preferential accumulation in target (e.g., tumor) cells and the light application can be restricted to the target area. By light activation the photosensitizer forms cytotoxic compounds, mainly reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus destroying the target. The emission of fluorescence light is employed in fluorescence diagnosis for tumor diagnosis. PDT is applied for malignant and several nonmalignant diseases.

Characteristics

Historical Perspective

Photodynamic effects have been known for a long time from substances enhancing the healing effect of sunlight. It lasted until 1904 when the term “photodynamic” was used for light-induced cytotoxic action and fluorescence of a photosensitizer. Modern...

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References

  1. Mroz P, Hashmi JT, Huang YY et al (2011) Stimulation of anti-tumorimmunity by photodynamic therapy. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 7:75–91

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  2. Dolmans DE, Fukumura D, Jain RK (2003) Photodynamic therapy for cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 3:380–387

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  3. Plaetzer K, Kiesslich T, Oberdanner CB et al (2005) Apoptosis following photodynamic tumor therapy: induction, mechanisms and detection. Curr Pharm Des 11:1151–1165

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  4. Triesscheijn M, Baas P, Schellens JH et al (2006) Photodynamic therapy in oncology. Oncologist 11:1034–1044

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  5. Allison RR, Sibata CH (2010) Oncologic photodynamic therapy photosensitizers: a clinical review. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 7(2):61–75

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg, Austria

    Barbara Krammer

  2. University Hospital of Internal Medicine I, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Tobias Kiesslich

Authors
  1. Barbara Krammer
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  2. Tobias Kiesslich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara Krammer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Professor of Genetics, German Cancer Research Center - DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Krammer, B., Kiesslich, T. (2011). Photodynamic Therapy. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_4553

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