A brief overview of photodynamic therapy in Europe

Summary 

Photodynamic effect was a chance discovery early in the 1900s, demonstrating the lethal effects of light activated chemicals on living cells. Although the application of the principles of photodynamic effect to patients’ treatment and what became photodynamic therapy (PDT) was practiced in 1960s and 1970s, clinical trials were only started in the 1980s, following successful synthesis of clinically usable photosensitisers (drugs) and the manufacturing of light sources. We briefly review and highlight some of the landmarks of the development of clinical PDT in Europe.

Abbreviations: AK, Actinic keratosis, ALA, Aminolaevulinic acid, APC, Argon plasma coagulation, BD, Bowen's disease, CLSM, Confocal laser scanning microscopy, DHE, Dihaematoporphyrin ether, EMR, Endoscopic mucosal resection, ESR, Electron spin resonance, HGD, High grade dysplasia, HpD, Haematoporphyrin derivative, LIFS, Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy, LGD, Low grade dysplasia, mTHPC, meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin, NMLC, National Medical Laser Centre, NICE, National Institute for Clinical Excellence, PDT, Photodynamic therapy, PHP, Polyhaematoporphyrin, PPD, Photo-diagnosis, PpIX, Protoporphrin IX, PTA, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, sBCC, Superficial basal cell carcinomas, YLC, Yorkshire Laser Centre

Keywords: Photodynamic therapy, Photo-diagnosis, History, European