US hospital offers vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy for localised PCa
Prostate cancer cells
Thursday, 29 July 2010- The NYU Langone Medical Center has begun a clinical trial offering vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy to patients with localised prostate cancer. This novel, minimally invasive procedure uses a light-activated drug to deliver light energy waves by way of laser fibres in order to destroy prostate cancer cells.
"This minimally invasive technique for localized prostate cancer offers the potential to destroy the cancer without making any incision or causing any potentially devastating sexual, urinary or reproductive side-effects," said Dr. Samir Taneja, The James M. Neissa and Janet Riha Neissa Associate Professor of Urologic Oncology and director of the Division of Urologic Oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center. Taneja is also the principal investigator for the national, multi-center clinical trial testing this technology.
"This procedure only treats the cancerous part of the prostate gland, similar to how a lumpectomy might be done for breast cancer,” he added.
Recent European studies show photodynamic therapy successfully treats localised prostate cancer with minimal side effects. The study by Taneja and his team will investigate optimal dosage of the photosensitive drug and light-energy waves and measure outcomes of patients as well as long-term cancer control. Researchers believe the technology has the potential to treat any early stage prostate cancer as well as tumours in other organs of the body.
This Phase I/II photodynamic therapy trial is open to men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer -- determined by a needle biopsy and advanced imaging techniques -- who have chosen active surveillance.
During the procedure, laser fibbers are positioned over the prostate where cancer cells have been identified. Once in place, a photosensitising drug called WST11 is administered to the patient intravenously and circulates throughout the blood stream for 10 minutes. The laser fibres are then activated to deliver a specific wavelength of light to the prostate for 20 minutes.
When the light comes into contact with the drug in circulation, the laser fibres destroy the blood vessels around the tumour shutting down the blood supply to the cancer. Patients are followed for a year after treatment with PSA tests after each visit and an MRI and needle biopsy performed at six months.
"Focal treatment of prostate cancer with techniques such as photodynamic therapy is an emerging paradigm since the over treatment of prostate cancer is a major concern for both physicians and patients," said Taneja who is also a member of the NYU Cancer Institute.
Source: NYU Langone Medical Center, EurekaAlert
