Intraoperative phototherapy: a comparative study of intravenous and topical photofrin II and aminolevulinic acid

This study compares the systemic and topical application of photofrin II and aminolevulinic acid as an intraoperative adjuvant therapy in the C3H mouse radiation-induced fibrosarcoma model. Dose-development and time-dependent studies were first conducted followed by intraoperative phototherapy studies with photofrin II and aminolevulinic acid. Study results clearly show that intraoperative phototherapy after aminolevulinic acid topical application is significantly more effective than treatment with photofrin II given intravenously or topically (p < 0.05) in this animal tumor model. The concept of topical application of photosensitizers and the rationale for intraoperative adjuvant phototherapy are discussed.