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The review is on opportunities and possibilities of application of photodynamic therapy in clinical practice. The advantages of this method are the targeting of effect on tumor foci and high efficiency along with low systemic toxicity. The results of the set of recent Russian and foreign clinical trials are represented in the review. The method is successfully used in clinical practice with both radical (for early vulvar, cervical cancer and pre-cancer, central early lung cancer, esophageal and gastric cancer, bladder cancer and other types of malignant tumors), and palliative care (including tumor pleuritis, gastrointestinal tumors and others). Photodynamic therapy delivers results which are not available for other methods of cancer therapy. Thus, photodynamic therapy allows to avoid gross scars (that is very important, for example, in gynecology for treatment of patients of reproductive age with cervical and vulvar cancer), delivers good cosmetic effect for skin tumors, allows minimal trauma for intact tissue surrounding tumor. Photodynamic therapy is also used in other fields of medicine, such as otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, for treatment of papilloma virus infection and purulent wounds as antibacterial therapy.

The results of clinical study for efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with radachlorine in patients with pre-cancer and cancer of cervix are represented. The study enrolled 30 patients including 4 patients with cervical erosion, 5 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II, 13 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III, 4 patients with carcinoma in situ and 4 patients with cervical cancer stage Ia. Radachlorine was administrated as single 30 minute intravenous injection at dose of 1,0 mg/kg of body weight 3 h before irradiation (wavelength of 662 nm, light dose of 300–350 J/cm2). The results of treatment in 26 (86,7%) patients was assessed as complete tumor regression and in 4 (13,3%) patients — as partial regression. In cervical erosion, intraepithelial neoplasia II and carcinoma in situ groups total regression was in all cases. In the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III group total regression after first course of PDT was achieved in 77% of patients, in cervical cancer stage Ia group – in 75% of patients. From 3 to 6 months after first course of treatment all patients with partial tumor regression underwent the second course of PDT with complete regression. There were no side-effects due to radachorine or PDT in the course of treatment and during follow-up. Thus, PDT with Russian photosensitizer radachlorine showed high efficiency for treatment of pre-cancer and cancer of cervix.

Results of treating 114 skin metastases of melanoma in 21 patients are represented. Melanoma progression with cutaneous metastases after previous treatment was diagnosed in all patients. The method of prolonged photodynamic therapy developed by authors with fotosens administrated intravenously at dose of 0.4 mg/kg of body weight was used in the study. First session of tumor irradiation was performed 2 h after injection of photosensitizer. Patients underwent superfi cial or contact irradiation depending on topography and type of growth of metastatic foci. Course of treatment accounted for 7–10 sessions of photodynamic therapy with 24 h interval, light dose delivered to tumor for one session – 350 J/cm2. Signifi cant clinical effect (complete and partial tumor regression) was obtained in 89% of cases for developed method.

The technique of fluorescence hysteroscopy with Alasens includes visual assessment of fluorescence of Alasens-induced protoporphyrin IX and local fluorescence spectroscopy. The technique allows to improve the efficacy of early diagnosis for endometrial pathology including early endometrial cancer, to assess definitely an extent of pre-tumor and tumor process. The sensitivity of fluorescence hysteroscopy accounts for 100%, the specificity – 98%.

A case of successful photodynamic therapy (PDT) of the patient with grade 3 vulvar dysplasia. One course of treatment with photolon was performed. The photosensitizer was administered intravenously as 30 min infusion in dose of 1.0 mg/kg body weight. The PDT session was performed 3h after infusion of photolon, the light dose was 350 J/cm2. The treatment was well tolerated. Due to PDT a complete tumor regression was achieved. The patient received a strict follow-up schedule, for 8 months after PDT no recurrence was observed.