Photodynamic Therapy

Also known as PDT, it is one of the four most common cancer therapies, the others being surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. PDT was first used as a cancer therapy over 100 years ago.

PDT uses laser, or other light sources, combined with a light sensitive drug (called photosensitising agent) to destroy cancer cells. This treatment is used in many cases where surgery is neither possible nor preferred. PDT is most frequently used in gastro-intestinal, esophageal, bladder, neurosurgical, prostate cancers/disorders and in wet age-related macular degeneration of the eyes.

One of the limiting factors and key side effects of PDT therapy is debilitating photosensitivity of skin and eyes to light (sunlight as well as artificial light). Patients suffer intense pain associated with this photosensitivity and are forced to avoid sunlight/artificial light for up to 90 days following treatment.

It is anticipated that afamelanotide (CUV1647) will be shown to prevent the phototoxicity associated with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in cancer therapy.

For more information on PDT, please see the Clinuvel Photoprotection PDT page.