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Marcel P. Copper, MD; I. Bing Tan, MD; Hugo Oppelaar; Marjan C. Ruevekamp; Fiona A. Stewart, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;129:709-711.

Objective  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new treatment modality for various types of cancer, including cancer of the head and neck. The advent of the second-generation photosensitizers such as meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) (Foscan; Scotia Pharmaceuticals, Stirling, Scotland), which are more effective and less phototoxic to the skin than their forerunners, now makes this treatment a feasible alternative to surgery or radiotherapy in specific cases. To evaluate the long-term outcome of this therapy for squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, we treated patients with PDT using mTHPC.

Design  Prospective study.

Setting  Tertiary cancer referral center.

Patients  Twenty-five patients with 29 T1-T2 N0 tumors of the oral cavity and/or oropharynx.

Intervention  Photodynamic therapy.

Main Outcome Measure  Complete local tumor remission.

Results  The mean follow-up of the patients after treatment was 37 months. In 25 (86%) of 29 tumors, a complete remission of the primary tumor was obtained. In the 4 recurrences, salvage was achieved by conventional therapy. In none of the patients was any long-term functional deficit detected.

Conclusions  This study confirms that PDT is a powerful treatment modality that could be considered as an alternative to surgery or radiotherapy in specific cases of head and neck cancer. The major advantage of PDT over these conventional therapies is the reduction in long-term morbidity. Radiotherapy or surgery could be reserved for salvage therapy in the event of a recurrence or second primary tumors.

From the Departments of Head and Neck Surgery (Drs Copper and Tan) and Experimental Therapy (Mr Oppelaar, Ms Ruevekamp, and Dr Stewart), Netherlands Cancer Institute, and Otolaryngology, Academic Medical Center (Drs Copper and Tan) Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.

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