m-THPC photodynamic therapy for head and neck cancer

Over the past 30 months, the authors have treated a wide variety of head and neck cancer patients with meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (mTHPC)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), This drug is a powerful, second-generation photosensitizer with significant advantages over earlier drugs, Treatment ranged from palliation and adjunctive to curative procedures. Results to date are very encouraging, with marked advantages over standard methods of treatment with respect to morbidity, both functional and aesthetic. Potential cure rates remain essentially unchanged, very much dependent on the stage of the tumour. These promising early results justify a multicentre study for treatment of early head and neck cancer using this drug and light combination. This is now underway.