History of PDT

  • Fábio Parra Sellera
  • Caetano Padial Sabino
  • Michael Richard Hamblin
Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

This chapter presents the brightest historical milestones behind the development of photodynamic therapy (PDT). We initially present how photodynamic reactions were first observed by scientists from three different countries in the beginning of the twentieth century. Oskar Raab, from Germany, observed by accident that protozoan cells stained with fluorescent dyes were killed upon illumination, while Prime, in France, reported that human subjects who ingested also fluorescent dyes for an experimental treatment of neurological diseases developed severe erythema after short exposure to sunlight. Niels Finsen, from Denmark, was awarded with the third Nobel Prize of Medicine in the history for the development of light-based treatments for skin infections. Following, we describe how PDT slowly evolved until the 1960–1970s when new generations of less toxic photosensitizers were developed for diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors. Only then PDT really became a hot scientific area that began to attract many researchers to the field. We also describe the first huge medical and economic impact that PDT as the first effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of adult blindness in the world. Finally, we go through the main discoveries in veterinary medicine over the past years for the treatment of localized tumors and infections in diverse animal species.

Keywords

Hematoporphyrin Derivative Abnormal Blood Vessel Severe Erythema Treat Skin Disease Specific Therapeutic Effect 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

MR Hamblin was supported by US NIH grant R01AI050875.

References

  1. 1.
    El-Mofty AM. Clinical experience in the treatment of vitiligo with psoralens. In: Vitiligo and psoralens. 1st ed. Oxford: Pergamon Press; 1968. p. 147.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Wyss P. History of photomedicine. In: Wyss P, Tadir Y, Tromberg BJ, Haller U, editors. Photomedicine in gynecology and reproduction. 2nd ed. Karger Publishers, Basel, Switzerland; 2000. p. 4–11.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Peng Q, Moan J, Nesland JM. Correlation of subcellular and intratumoral photosensitizer localization with ultrastructural features after photodynamic therapy. Ultrastruct Pathol. 1996;20(2):109–29.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Allison RR, Downie GH, Cuenca R, Hu X-H, Childs CJ, Sibata CH. Photosensitizers in clinical PDT. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2004;1(1):27–42.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Prime J. Les accidentes toxiques par l’eosinate de sodium. Paris: Jouve and Boyer; 1900.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Ackroyd R, Kelty C, Brown N, Reed M. The history of photodetection and photodynamic therapy. Photochem Photobiol. 2001;74(5):656–69.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Von Tappeiner H, Jodlbauer A. Uber Wirkung der photodynamischen (fluorieszierenden) Stoffe auf Protozoan und Enzyme. Dtsch Arch Klin Med. 1904;80:427–87.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Von Tappeiner H, Jodlbauer A. Die Sensibilisieren-de Wirkung fluorieszierender Substanzer. Gesammte Untersu-chungen uber die photodynamische Erscheinung. Leipzig: F. C. W. Vogel; 1907.Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Babilas P, Karrer S, Sidoroff A, Landthaler M, Szeimies R-M. Photodynamic therapy in dermatology – an update. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2005;21(3):142–9.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Von Tappeiner H, Jesionek A. Therapeutische Ver-suche mit fluoreszierenden Stoffen. Muench Med Wochenschr. 1903;47:2042–4.Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Kessel D. Photodynamic therapy: from the beginning. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2004;1(1):3–7.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Dougherty TJ, Kaufman JE, Goldfarb A, Weishaupt KR, Boyle D, Mittleman A. Photoradiation therapy for the treatment of malignant tumors. Cancer Res. 1978;38(8):2628–35.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Sternberg ED, Dolphin D. Porphyrin-based photosensitizers for use in photodynamic therapy. Tetrahedron. 1998;54:4151–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Hausmann WH. Die sensibilisierende Wirkung des Hamatoporphyrins//Biochem Z. Biochem Z. 1910;30:276–316.Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Meyer-Betz F. Untersuchungen über die biologische (photodynamische) Wirkung des Hämatoporphyrins und anderer Derivate des Blut- und Gallenfarbstoffes. Dtsch Arch Klin Med. 1913;112:476–503.Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Auler H, Banzer G. Untersuchungen über die Rolle der Porphyrine bei geschwulstkranken Menschen und Tieren. Z Krebsforsch. 1942;53(65):68.Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Figge FHJ, Weiland GS, Manganiello LOJ. Cancer detection and therapy; affinity of neoplastic, embryonic, and traumatized tissues for porphyrins and metalloporphyrins. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1948;68(3):640.Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Spyropoulos B. 50 years LASERS: in vitro diagnostics, clinical applications and perspectives. Clin Lab. 2011;57(3–4):131–42.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Lipson RL, Baldes EJ, Olsen AM. The use of a derivative of hematoporphyrin in tumor detection. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1961;26:1–11.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Lipson RL, Gray MJ, Baldes EJ. Hematoporphyrin derivative for detection and management of cancer. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Cancer Congress. Tokyo; 1966. p. 393.Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    Wainwright M. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT). J Antimicrob Chemother. 1998;42(1):13–28.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Hamblin MR, Hasan T. Photodynamic therapy: a new antimicrobial approach to infectious disease? Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2004;3(5):436–50.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Clifton CE. Photodynamic action of certain dyes on the inactivation of staphylococcus bacteriophage. Exp Biol Med. 1931;28(7):745–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. 24.
    Perdrau JR, Todd C. Canine distemper. The high antigenic value of the virus after photodynamic inactivation by methylene blue. J Comp Pathol Ther. 1933;46:78–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    Felber TD. Photodynamic inactivation of herpes simplex. JAMA. 1973;223(3):289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    Kaufman RH, Gardner HL, Brown D, Wallis C, Rawls WE, Melnick JL. Herpes genitalis treated by photodynamic inactivation of virus. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1973;117(8):1144–6.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  27. 27.
    Melnick JL, Wallis C. Photodynamic inactivation of herpes simplex virus: a status report. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1977;284:171–81.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Nowak JZ. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): pathogenesis and therapy. Pharmacol Rep. 2006;58(3):353–63.Google Scholar
  29. 29.
    Messmer KJ, Abel SR. Verteporfin for age-related macular degeneration. Ann Pharmacother. 2001;35:1593–8.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  30. 30.
    Yang YC. Preserving vision with verteporfin photodynamic therapy. Hosp Med. 2004;65(1):39–43.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  31. 31.
    Yu J, Ba J, Peng R, Xu D, Li Y, Shi H, et al. Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for treating wet age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Drug Des Dev Ther. 2015;9:5397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    Dougherty TJ, Thoma RE, Boyle DG, Weishaupt KR. Interstitial photoradiation therapy for primary solid tumors in pet cats and dogs. Cancer Res. 1981;41(2):401–4.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  33. 33.
    Thoma RE, Stein RM, Weishaupt KR, Dougherty T. Phototherapy: A promising new cancer therapy. Vet Med Small Anim Clin. 1983;78:1693.Google Scholar
  34. 34.
    Cheli R, Addis F, Mortellaro CM, Fonda D, Andreoni A, Cubeddu R. Hematoporphyrin derivative photochemotherapy of spontaneous animal tumors: clinical results with optimized drug dose. Cancer Lett. 1984;23(1):61–6.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    Cheli R, Addis F, Mortellaro CM, Fonda D, Cubeddu R. Photodynamic therapy of spontaneous animal tumors using the active component of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPPH) as photosensitizing drug: clinical results. Cancer Lett. 1987;38(1–2):101–5.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  36. 36.
    Lucroy MD. Photodynamic therapy for companion animals with cancer. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2002;32(3):693–702.Google Scholar
  37. 37.
    Sellera FP, Sabino CP, Ribeiro MS, Fernandes LT, Pogliani FC, Teixeira CR, et al. Photodynamic therapy for pododermatitis in penguins. Zool Biol. 2014;33(4):353–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    Buchholz J, Walt H. Veterinary photodynamic therapy: a review. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2013;10(4):342–7.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Fábio Parra Sellera
    • 1
  • Caetano Padial Sabino
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
  • Michael Richard Hamblin
    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
  1. 1.Department of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal ScienceUniversity of São PauloButantaBrazil
  2. 2.Department of Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical SciencesUniversity of São PauloSao PauloBrazil
  3. 3.Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of São PauloSao PauloBrazil
  4. 4.Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, National Commission for Nuclear EnergySao PauloBrazil
  5. 5.Department of Medical BiophysicsPrincess Margaret Cancer Institute/University of TorontoTorontoCanada
  6. 6.Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonUSA
  7. 7.Department of DermatologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonUSA
  8. 8.Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and TechnologyCambridgeUSA

Personalised recommendations