Terapia fotodinâmica: princípios, potencial de aplicação e perspectivas

Abstract

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY: Principles, Potential of Application and Perspectives. Photody- namic Therapy (PDT) has been designated as a promising new modality in the treatment of cancer and other diseases since the early 1980s. It has been used with success for the treatment of a variety of tumours, and attempts are being made to extend this treatment modality to other clini- cal conditions (as example, the inactivation of viruses in blood and blood components). This can be partly attributed to the very attractive basic concept of PDT: the combination of a photosensitiz- ing drug and light, which are relatively harmless by themselves but combined (in the presence of oxygen) ultimately cause more or less selective tumour destruction.