HpD-PDT Therapy for Patients With Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Hematoporphyrin injection (HpD)-based photodynamic therapy (HpD-PDT) is a safe treatment option for patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) metabolized in the body, according to a study published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

Researchers aimed to assess the long-term variations in fluorescence (FL) intensity in vivo in patients with NMSC after IV administration of HpD to obtain information on metabolism, biosafety, and light-protection instruction for HpD during therapy. A total of 20 patients with NMSC (including SCC and BCC), Bowen disease, extramammary Paget’s disease, and malignant proliferating tricholemmoma were treated with twice laser irradiation-based HpD-PDT. Relative changes in FL intensity were analyzed for 1 month to evaluate the selectivity and pharmacokinetics of HpD in vivo.

FL was detected in skin lesions at 24 hours, and intensity increased significantly at 48 and 72 hours post-injection, indicating HpD at the cancer site. FL decreased after 72 hours and reached close to baseline 4 weeks post-injection. HpD was found to be safe.

“The results of the present study highlighted the suitability of a twice red-light laser irradiation strategy for the application of HpD-PDT in nonmelanoma skin cancer treatment,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Li C, Wang P, Wang D, et al. Fluorescence kinetics study of twice laser irradiation based HpD-PDT for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Lasers Surg Med. Published online April 7, 2022.  doi:10.1002/lsm.23538