Application of hematoporphyrin derivative and laser-induced photodynamical reaction in the treatment of lung cancer: a preliminary report on 21 cases.

This paper reports results of hematoporphyrin derivative based on photodynamic therapy (PDT) of 24 lung cancer lesions in 21 patients that were followed at least three months. Three of 24 lesions exhibited complete remission and 20 of 24 lesions exhibited a response to PDT. Tumors in twenty of twenty-one patients exhibited visually discernible hematoporphyrin derivative fluorescence upon irradiation with the 514-nm line from an argon ion laser. There were no severe complications due to PDT. The hematoporphyrin derivative, argon iin laser pumped dye laser (rhodamine B) system,and quartz fiber we used in this clinical series were all made in the People's Republic of China.