Mesothelioma Update

By Mark Block, MD; and Alice M. Boylan, MD

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Photodynamic Therapy

In photodynamic therapy (PDT), a drug is used to make cells sensitive to a particular wavelength of light. The drug is administered IV before surgery. The patient is then taken to the operating room, as much of the tumor is removed as possible, and a light source is placed in the chest. Serious complications include myocardial perforation. This therapy was studied in a phase III trial by Pass et al.²⁰ Patients were randomized to P/D with or without intraoperative PDT. Tumor was resected to minimal disease prior to initiation of PDT. They found no difference in median survival or time to progression between the two groups. Median survival was 14 months.

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