Hematoporphyrin-derivative phototherapy for local treatment of cancer of the tracheobronchial tree

In this paper the potential use of hematoporphyrin-derivative (HpD) phototherapy in the local treatment of bronchogenic carcinoma is discussed. Ten patients with cancer involving the tracheobronchial tree have completed at least one course of HpD-mediated laser phototherapy administered by means of the flexible fiberbronchoscope. Complete response was obtained in four cases, and in each case the tumor was small and superficial. Larger tumors with greater degrees of invasion showed only a partial response. Two patients with tumors eroding through the bronchial wall died following treatment. It appears that HpD phototherapy may be useful for control of only small, superficial squamous cell carcinomas of the tracheobronchial tree and only those within the range of the flexible fiberbronchoscope.