Clinical Experience of Photodynamic Therapy in Five Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer.

Kim, Yang ki; Lee, Young Mok; Kim, Ki up; Uh, Soo Taek; Kim, Yong hoon; Park, Choon Sik

doi:2004.57.1.72

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 57(1); 2004 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004;57(1):72-77.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2004.57.1.72 Published online July 1, 2004.

Clinical Experience of Photodynamic Therapy in Five Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer.

Yang ki Kim, Young Mok Lee, Ki up Kim, Soo Taek Uh, Yong hoon Kim, Choon Sik Park

Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea. uhs@hosp.sch.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
A tracheobronchial obstruction in lung cancer is associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and recurrent respiratory infection. It is well known that one of standard treatments is photodynamic therapy (PDT) in tracheobronchial obstruction after radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or surgery. We reported here the role of PDT in airway obstruction in patients advanced lung cancer. METHOD: Pre-treatment protocol consisted of clinical, radiologic, and bronchoscopic examination, pulmonary function test, and assessment of Karnofsky performance status. A 2 mg/kg of porfimer sodium was injected intravenously, and then followed by cylindrical and/or interstitial irradiation with 630 nm of laser after 48 hours. The repeated bronchoscopy for debridement of necrotic tissue and re-illumination was performed after 48 hours. RESULT: Improved airway obstruction and selective tumor necrosis were achieved by photodynamic therapy in all cases. Dyspnea and performance status were improved in three cases. A purulent sputum, fever and hemoptysis were improved in one of five cases. After PDT, all patients showed temporarily aggravation of dyspnea, two of five showed febrile reaction for a few days and nobody presented photosensitivity reaction, hemoptysis and respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: Our experiences of PDT are effective in palliation of inoperable advanced lung cancer in terms of tracheobronchial obstruction.

Key Words: Photodynamic therapy, Tracheobronchial obstruction, Lung cancer