Treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with hematoporphyrin derivative phototherapy

The demonstration that intravenously administered hematoporphyrin derivative concentrates preferentially in dysplastic and neoplastic transitional cells in the human bladder prompted a trial of hematoporphyrin derivative phototherapy in patients with transitional cell cancer of the bladder. A dose of 2.5 mg. per kg. was given intravenously 3 to 48 hours before treatment with light of a wavelength of 630 nm. from an argon ion pumped dye laser. Total light dose approximated 150 joules per cm.². Four patients with resistant carcinoma in situ have been treated and all have had disappearance of the tumors proved by biopsy. Although there are many technical problems we believe that hematoporphyrin derivative phototherapy holds promise as an effective treatment modality, primarily for patients with resistant, recurrent in situ transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.