Hematoporphyrin phototherapy of cancer.

Hematoporphyrin phototherapy of cancer is a new modality for cancer diagnosis and treatment that is currently undergoing clinical trials worldwide. A variety of tumors have been studied, e.g., breast (mostly recurrent skin), lung, bladder, eye, head and neck, gynecological and brain. The most success to date has been with lung and the gynecological tract. Cell and animal studies are being conducted to elucidate the basic photobiological mechanisms involved, as well as the histopathological events associated with tumor destruction. Although major questions remain to be resolved, hematoporphyrin phototherapy is an exciting new therapeutic modality for the treatment of cancer, especially in sites where the unique features of lasers and fiber optics are advantageous.