Photodynamic Therapy May Improve With New Medication

There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year. Presently, no cure for this deadly form of cancer exists. Treatment plans, such as chemotherapy, exist to reduce pain and maximize an individual’s lifespan, but none have proven to completely cure mesothelioma. Currently, the best way to combat mesothelioma is to prevent it.

The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to the fibrous building material asbestos. This carcinogen was used in the construction of many homes, offices, and other buildings in the 20^th century.

Mesothelioma has a latency period of up to several decades, meaning that symptoms may not manifest for many years. For this reason, asbestos was used for years without its dangers being known. Also, the initial symptoms are similar to lung cancer, which should be treated differently than mesothelioma.

Even now that the dangers are known, difficulties arise in the removal of existing asbestos. Asbestos abatement workers place themselves in serious danger when working to remove this hazardous material. Many who work to make buildings safer often find themselves dealing with mesothelioma later in life.

Aside from the traditional methods of cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery), there are a number of non-traditional methods. The traditional methods are designed to combat other forms of cancer, such as lung cancer. However, mesothelioma functions in a much different way, making traditional methods less effective. New, non-traditional methods are being developed specifically for mesothelioma in the hopes of finding an effective cure.

Currently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is often used in conjunction with the other traditional treatments. The main aspect of photodynamic therapy is the use of light to destroy cancer cells.

Patients undergoing photodynamic therapy must first receive a photosensitizer medication. These drugs cause the cells to become extremely sensitive to specific wavelengths of light. Once the cells have been sensitized, they are exposed to those wavelengths of light. This is commonly done by using fiber optic cables during surgery. If done correctly, the cancer cells will react with a toxic oxygen molecule and be destroyed. Photodynamic therapy is most useful on cancers that have not spread throughout other parts of the body.

The shortcomings of this method include that it is most effective on cancer cells near the surface, and that the photosensitizing drug may cause the entire body to become sensitive to light. Patients who have undergone this therapy are advised to avoid direct exposure to sunlight for one or two months.

Even in its early stages, photodynamic therapy has shown promise as an effective form of mesothelioma treatment. New developments in regards to the photosensitizer drug may greatly improve its effectiveness.

A new medication, called Photofrin, has shown promise in treating small cell lung and esophageal cancers. Photofrin is a more technically known as porfimer sodium. Ideally, this drug would be easy to localize to cancer cells and prevent the risk of other parts of the body becoming sensitive to light. Photofrin has recently been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in malignant mesothelioma treatment.

Photofrin and photodynamic therapy will continue to be used in conjunction with other types of mesothelioma treatments, specifically surgery. Continuing to pair these cancer treatment modalities will hopefully lead to more effective treatments and an official cure for the disease.

Though medical scientists have yet to develop a full cure for mesothelioma, these ever-advancing techniques help reduce patients’ pain and suffering and help extend their life spans.