Clinical Photodynamic Therapy in the Chinese Region

Abstract

In the 1980s and 1990s, PDT, also known as photodynamic treatment, was often described in Chinese literature as laseror photochemotherapy. Due to the high expectation of tumor selectivity of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), HPD-based PDT was also often called hematoporphyrin photoradiation therapy or hematoporphyrin (derivative) laser antitumor therapy. The first PDT case was performed on an eyelid tumor by Dr. Jin Zhou at Beijing Tong-Ren Hospital in July 1981. The novelty of this modality and its great therapeutic potential for the treatment of malignant diseases immediately drew attention and excitement in China and Taiwan. As a part of the government-organized campaign, the Chinese began to make HPD in the early 1980s after Thomas Dougherty (Roswell Park Cancer Institute) rediscovered Schwartz’s HPD in the 1970s. The first domestic HPD was successfully prepared from hematoporphyrin isolated from animal blood in 1980. Over the past two decades, the Chinese continued their substantial efforts trying to create better photosensitizers and light sources. Several dozen photosensitizers have been synthesized and their photodynamic effects have been evaluated in a variety of in vitro and in vivo tests. Some promising drugs and PDT light sources have undergone clinical investigational studies and a few have obtained regulatory approvals. In addition, some Chinese studies and PDT protocols have certainly reached advanced levels and could be valuable to the international PDT communities. This chapter will highlight some unique accomplishments and experiences of PDT in the Chinese region.