Photodynamic Therapy as a Treatment to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

WU Wing Kei Ricky, CHU SM Ellie and Yow MN Christine

Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, China
Department of Laboratory Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China

^*Correspondance to: WU Wing Kei Ricky 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1308

Abstract

NPC is highly prevalent in Hong Kong with more than 800 new cases reported annually. The epidemiologic evidence implies that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, environmental factors and genetic factors play roles in the tumorigenesis of NPC. Conventional treatment of NPC is chemoradiotherapy, yet the treatment outcomes in patients with advanced stage of NPC are unsatisfactory. Therefore development of new treatment strategies is crucial for patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), particularly for patients with drug resistance properties or distance recurrence. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an FDA approved cancer regimen which employs a combination of light-activated photosensitiser visible light and molecular oxygen to selectively destroy the biological targets. 3rd generation of photosensitizers with light activation by advance light sources such as coherent light source (laser) and non-coherent light source (LED) could be one of novel strategies in for NPC patients. In-depth investigation for selected PSs mediated PDT on NPC model is still underway.

Keywords

Photodynamic therapy; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Epstein barr virus; Microrna; Drug resistance

Cite the article

WU Wing Kei Ricky, CHU SM Ellie, Yow MN Christine. Photodynamic Therapy as a Treatment to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1308.