Patient-specific dosimetry for photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been in routine clinical use since the 1970s. During this period, there has been significant development in light source design, sensitizer chemistry, and clinical protocols. These advances have been paralleled by a continuous improvement in dosimetry, driven by increasing understanding of the underlying physical processes responsible for PDT-mediated tissue damage. A comprehensive dosimetry model must account for patient geometry, tissue optical properties, photosensitizer distribution, and tissue oxygenation. This paper summarizes the developments in PDT dosimetry designed to measure and account for individual variations among patients in these parameters. In each case, we present the results of measurements made during a Phase I clinical trial of PDT for recurrent prostate adenocarcinoma conducted at the University of Pennsylvania. © Springer Science + Business Media LLC 2008.