Photosensitising drugs - their potential in oncology

Despite decades of targeted research, cancer remains a leading cause of death. Around one third of the population of Western Europe and North America will develop cancer in their lifetime and, virtually without exception, all of us will be affected by the disease, either directly as patients or by repercussions in family and friends. In certain specific cancers, advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have led to major achievements, but in many types of cancer there has been little or no improvement in long-term survival. In yet other cases, whilst there may be good initial responses to drug therapy, drug resistance develops and additional agents are required to induce further remission in these patients. There is therefore a clear need for new anticancer agents and novel therapies. It is in this context that photosensitising drugs may play a significant part.