[Photodynamic therapy for early stage lung cancer]

Since 1980, 225 patients with lung cancers have been treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) at Tokyo Medical College. These were 212 males and 13 females, and the median age was 65.2 years (range 36 to 85). Clinical stages were 72 early stage, 33 stage I, 11 stage II, 84 stage III and 25 stage IV. In 72 cases (91 lesions) of early stage lung cancers, complete remissions were obtained in 75 cases (82.4%) and partial remission in 16 cases. Mean survival after PDT was 52 months and 53 cases were disease free in 5 to 176 months. PDT is useful in the treatment for early stage lung cancer.