Efficacy of antivascular photodynamic therapy using benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA) in 14 dogs with oral and nasal tumors.

Antivascular photodynamic therapy (PDT) suppresses tumor growth and prolonged the survival in solid tumor-bearing mice. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of antivascular PDT using BPD-MA for treatment of oral and nasal tumors in 14 dogs. At 15 min after initiating intravenous infusion of 0.5 mg/kg benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A, tumors were irradiated with laser light at 690 nm emitted by a diode laser. The 1-year survival rate of 7 dogs with oral tumors was 71%. The 1-year survival rate of 7 dogs with nasal tumors was 57%. Imaging of each tumor was performed by using angiographic computed tomography before and after each antivascular PDT. Contrast-enhanced tumors were observed before antivascular PDT, but these tumors were not enhanced with contrast medium following antivascular PDT. Antivascular PDT is suggested to be a promising method for dogs with oral and nasal tumors that cannot be effectively treated with current antitumor therapies.