Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic Therapy - An innovative cancer treatment that uses light-activated drugs (or photosensitizing agents) and a light source to kill cancer cells. In photodynamic therapy (PDT), patients are first injected with Photofrin^® (a light-sensitive chemotherapy drug designed to target cancerous cells only). Then, after the drug is absorbed by the cancer cells, the area being treated is exposed to a spectrum of light which "switches" on the drug to ultimately destroy the cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy is noted for its potential to destroy cancerous cells while sparing much of the nearby healthy tissue. Photodynamic therapy may be used to help treat or relieve the symptoms of esophageal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

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