PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IN GYNECOLOGICAL NEOPLASTIC DISEASES

Since 1982, our department has used photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of loco-regional recurrences of gynaecological cancers. We h ave treated 26 patients in this time. In the majority of cases the sit e of vaginal recurrences was the vaginal vault. The light sources were an Argon-dye laser (Meditec) and, in some cases, a CO2 laser. The lig ht dose ranged between 60 and 500 J cm(-2). The photosensitizing drug used was Hematoporphyrin (HP) (Monico Farmaceutici) at the dose of 5 m g kg(-1) body weight. Patients were evaluated 45 days after the treatm ent with a gynaecological examination and after 75-90 days with a vagi nal smear. The results were divided into 2 groups: objective and sympt omatic. The symptomatic response concerned only the patients treated w ith a palliative aim and, in this case, a complete response (CR) was a complete absence of symptoms at least for 60 days. In this group the complete response rate was 66%. In the curative group, the complete re sponse was a cytological and/or histological absence of lesions. In th is group we had 12 CR (70.58%). The survival rate was also evaluated. A significant review of the photodynamic therapy in gynaecological neo plasms has also been done.