Applications of Photodynamic Therapy in Endometrial Diseases
Gabriela Correia-Barros1, Beatriz Serambeque1,2, Maria João Carvalho1,2,3,4,5
1Institute of Biophysics and Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract:
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical procedure useful for several benign conditions (such as wound healing and infections) and cancer. PDT is minimally invasive, presents few side effects, good scaring, and is able to minimal tissue destruction maintaining organ anatomy and function. Endoscopic access to the uterus puts PDT in the spotlight for endometrial disease treatment. This work systematically reviews the current evidence of PDT's potential and usefulness in endometrial diseases. Thus, this narrative review focused on PDT applications for endometrial disease, including reports regarding in vitro, ex vivo, animal, and clinical studies. Cell lines and primary samples were used as in vitro models of cancer, adenomyosis and endometrioses, while most animal studies focused the PDT outcomes on endometrial ablation. A few clinical attempts are known using PDT for endometrial ablation and cancer lesions. This review emphasises PDT as a promising field of research. This therapeutic approach has the potential to become an effective conservative treatment method for endometrial benign and malignant lesions. Further investigations with improved photosensitisers are highly expected.


