Temoporfin mediated photodynamic therapy in patients with local persistent and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after curative radiotherapy: A feasibility study

H. J. Nyst, M. A. Wildeman, S. R. Indrasari, B. Karakullukcu, R. L.P. van Veen, M. Adham, F. A. Stewart, P. C. Levendag, H. J.C.M. Sterenborg, I. B. Tan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The treatment of persistent and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains a challenge, especially in Indonesia. We investigated the safety and efficacy of temoporfin mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) for patients with local persistent and recurrent NPC. Material and methods: Twenty-two patients with persistent and recurrent NPC (maximum tumor depth <10mm) underwent PDT under local anesthesia with use of a nasopharyngeal light applicator. Three different drug doses and light intervals have been administered: treatment arm A: 0.15mg/kg Foscan®; 96h drug-light interval; B: drug dose of 0.10mg/, 48h drug-light interval; C: drug dose of 0.075mg/kg, 24h drug-light interval. Toxicity was measured by using the CTCAE 3.1 scale. Results: Arm A consisted of eight patients, arms B and C consisted of seven patients. The treatment procedure was well tolerable under local anesthesia. The most common grade III toxicities for all groups is headache (n=7; 33%). No grade IV toxicity was seen. One patient died 2 days after treatment due to a misdiagnosed pneumonia. In 17 of the 22 patients a biopsy was performed after 40 weeks and showed no tumor in all biopsies. Arm A seems, in addition to comparable toxicity, clinically more effective than arms B and C. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that temoporfin mediated photodynamic therapy is a relatively simple technique that can be utilized to treat residual or recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer, restricted locally to the nasopharynx.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)274-281
Number of pages8
JournalPhotodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2012

Keywords

  • Naspoharyngeal carcinoma
  • Persistent and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Photodynamic therapy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Temoporfin mediated photodynamic therapy in patients with local persistent and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after curative radiotherapy: A feasibility study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this