Photodynamic Therapy: New Light to the Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment - Abstract
Development of new treatment strategies is crucial for patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC). NPC is one of the top ten cancers highly prevalent in Hong Kong with more than 800 new cases reported annually. The epidemiologic evidence implies that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, environmental factors and genetic factors play roles in the tumorigenesis of NPC. Conventional treatment of NPC is mainly based on chemo-radiotherapy. However, the treatment outcomes in patients with advanced stage of NPC are unsatisfactory. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an FDA approved cancer regime in the USA, European Union, Japan and China and could be one of novel strategies in PDT development for NPC patients. It employs a combination of light-activated photosensitiser visible light and molecular oxygen to selectively destroy the biological targets. In-depth investigation for selected PSs mediated PDT on NPC cells is still underway.