Michele T. Cooper

Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of Bowen's disease.

BACKGROUND The treatment of Bowens disease in anatomically difficult areas or especially large lesions can challenge accepted modalities of treatment. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to illustrate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of Bowens disease. In addition, photodynamic therapy may be used as adjuvant therapy for difficult lesions. METHODS Six patients with Bowens disease in various anatomic sites were treated with photodynamic therapy. Four were in a difficult anatomic site, or were especially large, or both. Photofrin, 1.0 mg/kg, was administered intravenously and laser treatment was given approximately 48 hours later with the argon dye laser. Light was administered at a wavelength of 630 nm and the light dose ranged from 185 to 250 joules/cm2. Treatment was given by surface radiation only. RESULTS Eight lesions were treated. All showed a complete response at 3 months (100%) and continue to show a complete response at 6 and 12 months. Morbidity was low; the most significant side effects were moderate pain and edema. Healing time varied depending on the size of the lesion. CONCLUSION Photodynamic therapy is an effective and useful alternative for Bowens disease, especially those lesions in anatomically difficult areas or those that are especially large.

Photodynamic Therapy for Head and Neck Dysplasia and Cancer

OBJECTIVE To determine the response of dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CIS), and T1 carcinoma of the oral cavity and larynx to photodynamic therapy with porfimer sodium. DESIGN Prospective trial. SETTING A National Cancer Institute-designated cancer institute. PATIENTS Patients with primary or recurrent moderate to severe oral or laryngeal dysplasia, CIS, or T1N0 carcinoma. INTERVENTION Porfimer sodium, 2 mg/kg of body weight, was injected intravenously 48 hours before treatment. Light at 630 nm for photosensitizer activation was delivered from an argon laser or diode laser using lens or cylindrical diffuser fibers. The light dose was 50 J/cm(2) for dysplasia and CIS and 75 J/cm(2) for carcinoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Response was evaluated at 1 week and at 1 month and then at 3-month intervals thereafter. Response options were complete (CR), partial (PR), and no (NR) response. Posttreatment biopsies were performed in all patients with persistent and recurrent visible lesions. RESULTS Thirty patients were enrolled, and 26 were evaluable. Mean follow-up was 15 months (range, 7-52 months). Twenty-four patients had a CR, 1 had a PR, and 1 had NR. Three patients with oral dysplasia with an initial CR experienced recurrence in the treatment field. All the patients with NR, a PR, or recurrence after an initial CR underwent salvage treatment. Temporary morbidities included edema, pain, hoarseness, and skin phototoxicity. CONCLUSION Photodynamic therapy with porfimer sodium is an effective treatment alternative, with no permanent sequelae, for oral and laryngeal dysplasia and early carcinoma. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00530088.

Monitoring photobleaching and hemodynamic responses to HPPH-mediated photodynamic therapy of head and neck cancer: a case report

We present initial results obtained during the course of a Phase I clinical trial of 2-1[hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH)-mediated photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) in a head and neck cancer patient. We quantified blood flow, oxygenation and HPPH drug photobleaching before and after therapeutic light treatment by utilizing fast, non-invasive diffuse optical methods. Our results showed that HPPH-PDT induced significant drug photobleaching, and reduction in blood flow and oxygenation suggesting significant vascular and cellular reaction. These changes were accompanied by cross-linking of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a molecular measure for the oxidative photoreaction. These preliminary results suggest diffuse optical spectroscopies permit non-invasive monitoring of PDT in clinical settings of head and neck cancer patients.

Cross-Linking of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3—A Molecular Marker for the Photodynamic Reaction in Cells and Tumors

Purpose: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) depends on the delivery of a photosensitizer to the target tissue that, under light exposure, produces singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species, which in turn cause the death of the treated cell. This study establishes a quantitative marker for the photoreaction that will predict the outcome of PDT. Experimental Design: Cells in tissue culture, murine s.c. tumors, and endobronchial carcinomas in patients were treated with PDT, and the noncleavable cross-linking of the latent signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was determined. Results: Murine and human cancer cell lines reacted to PDT by an immediate covalent cross-linking of STAT3 to homodimeric and other complexes. The magnitude of this effect was strictly a function of the PDT reaction that is determined by the photosensitizer concentration and light dose. The cross-link reaction of STAT3 was proportional to the subsequent cytotoxic outcome of PDT. An equivalent photoreaction as detected in vitro occurred in tumors treated in situ with PDT. The light dose-dependent STAT3 cross-linking indicated the relative effectiveness of PDT as a function of the distance of the tissue to the treating laser light source. Absence of cross-links correlated with treatment failure. Conclusions: The data suggest that the relative amount of cross-linked STAT3 predicts the probability for beneficial outcome, whereas absence of cross-links predicts treatment failure. Determination of STAT3 cross-links after PDT might be clinically useful for early assessment of PDT response.

Photodynamic Therapy with 3-(1′-Hexyloxyethyl) Pyropheophorbide a for Cancer of the Oral Cavity

Purpose: The primary objective was to evaluate safety of 3-(1′-hexyloxyethyl)pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) photodynamic therapy (HPPH-PDT) for dysplasia and early squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Secondary objectives were the assessment of treatment response and reporters for an effective PDT reaction. Experimental Design: Patients with histologically proven oral dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or early-stage HNSCC were enrolled in two sequentially conducted dose escalation studies with an expanded cohort at the highest dose level. These studies used an HPPH dose of 4 mg/m2 and light doses from 50 to 140 J/cm2. Pathologic tumor responses were assessed at 3 months. Clinical follow up range was 5 to 40 months. PDT induced cross-linking of STAT3 were assessed as potential indicators of PDT effective reaction. Results: Forty patients received HPPH-PDT. Common adverse events were pain and treatment site edema. Biopsy proven complete response rates were 46% for dysplasia and carcinoma in situ and 82% for squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) lesions at 140 J/cm2. The responses in the carcinoma in situ/dysplasia cohort are not durable. The PDT-induced STAT3 cross-links is significantly higher (P = 0.0033) in SCC than in carcinoma in situ/dysplasia for all light doses. Conclusion: HPPH-PDT is safe for the treatment of carcinoma in situ/dysplasia and early-stage cancer of the oral cavity. Early-stage oral HNSCC seems to respond better to HPPH-PDT in comparison with premalignant lesions. The degree of STAT3 cross-linking is a significant reporter to evaluate HPPH-PDT–mediated photoreaction. Clin Cancer Res; 19(23); 6605–13. ©2013 AACR.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using HPPH for the treatment of precancerous lesions associated with barrett's esophagus†

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with porfimer sodium, FDA approved to treat premalignant lesions in Barretts esophagus, causes photosensitivity for 6–8 weeks. HPPH (2‐[1‐hexyloxyethyl]‐2‐devinyl pyropheophorbide‐a) shows minimal photosensitization of short duration and promising efficacy in preclinical studies. Here we explore toxicity and optimal drug and light dose with endoscopic HPPH‐PDT. We also want to know the efficacy of one time treatment with HPPH‐PDT.

Adjuvant Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer

IMPORTANCE There is an immediate need to develop local intraoperative adjuvant treatment strategies to improve outcomes in patients with cancer who undergo head and neck surgery. OBJECTIVES To determine the safety of photodynamic therapy with 2-(1-hexyloxyethyl)-2-devinyl pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) in combination with surgery in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Nonrandomized, single-arm, single-site, phase 1 study at a comprehensive cancer center among 16 adult patients (median age, 65 years) with biopsy-proved primary or recurrent resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. INTERVENTIONS Intravenous injection of HPPH (4.0 mg/m2), followed by activation with 665-nm laser light in the surgical bed immediately after tumor resection. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Adverse events and highest laser light dose. RESULTS Fifteen patients received the full course of treatment, and 1 patient received HPPH without intraoperative laser light because of an unrelated myocardial infarction. Disease sites included larynx (7 patients), oral cavity (6 patients), skin (1 patient), ear canal (1 patient), and oropharynx (1 patient, who received HPPH only). The most frequent adverse events related to photodynamic therapy were mild to moderate edema (9 patients) and pain (3 patients). One patient developed a grade 3 fistula after salvage laryngectomy, and another patient developed a grade 3 wound infection and mandibular fracture. Phototoxicity reactions included 1 moderate photophobia and 2 mild to moderate skin burns (2 due to operating room spotlights and 1 due to the pulse oximeter). The highest laser light dose was 75 J/cm2. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The adjuvant use of HPPH-photodynamic therapy and surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma seems safe and deserves further study. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00470496.

Preliminary clinical data on a new photodynamic therapy photosensitizer: 2-[1-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) for treatment of obstructive esophageal cancer

Limited therapeutic options exist when chest wafl recurrence from breast cancer progresses despite standard salvage treatment. As photodynamic therapy offers excellent response for cutaneous lesions this may be a possible indication for PDT. A total of 1 02 treatment fields were illuminated on 9 women with biopsy proven chest wall recurrence of breast cancer which was progressing despite salvage surgery, radiation, and chemo-hormonal therapy. PDT consisted of outpatient IV infusion ofPhotofrmn at 0.8 mg/kg followed 48 hours later by illumination at 140-170 J/cm2 via a KTP Yag laser coupled to a dye unit. No patient was lost to follow up. At 6 months post PDT; complete response, defined as total lesion elimination was 89%, partial response 8%, and no response 3%. No photosensitivity was seen and no patient developed scarring, fibrosis, or healing difficulties. Low dose Photofrmn induced PDT is very active against chest wall lesions. Despite fragile and heavily pre-treated tissues, excellent clinical and cosmetic outcome was obtained. PDT is an underutilized modality for this indication.

Interlesion differences in the local photodynamic therapy response of oral cavity lesions assessed by diffuse optical spectroscopies

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy depends on the local dose deposited in the lesion as well as oxygen availability in the lesion. We report significant interlesion differences between two patients with oral lesions treated with the same drug dose and similar light dose of 2-1[hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). Pre-PDT and PDT-induced changes in hemodynamic parameters and HPPH photosensitizer content, quantified by diffuse optical methods, demonstrated substantial differences between the two lesions. The differences in PDT action determined by the oxidative cross-linking of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a molecular measure of accumulated local PDT photoreaction, also showed >100-fold difference between the lesions, greatly exceeding what would be expected from the slight difference in light dose. Our results suggest diffuse optical spectroscopies can provide in vivo metrics that are indicative of local PDT dose in oral lesions.

Photodynamic therapy with 3-(1′-hexyloxyethyl) pyropheophorbide-a for early-stage cancer of the larynx: Phase Ib study

The purpose of this study was for us to report results regarding the safety of 3‐(1′‐hexyloxyethyl) pyropheophorbide‐a (HPPH) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) in early laryngeal disease, and offer preliminary information on treatment responses.