Photodynamic Therapy Applications in Malignant Brain Tumors
Summary
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) harnesses the cytotoxic potential of light-activated photosensitisers to produce reactive oxygen species, principally singlet oxygen, within malignant brain tissues. By exploiting selective uptake of photosensitisers by tumour cells and precise light delivery—either via surface illumination during surgery or interstitial optical fibres—PDT offers a highly localised treatment modality that complements surgical resection and standard chemoradiotherapy. In gliomas, particularly glioblastoma, fluorescence-guided resection using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has become routine to enhance tumour margin delineation; the same agent can be reactivated post-resection to induce cytotoxicity in infiltrative cells. Advances in interstitial PDT (I-PDT) and image-based dosimetry are overcoming previous barriers to treating deep-seated or residual disease, while combined approaches that modulate the blood–brain barrier or invoke immune-mediated tumour clearance are under investigation. Ongoing research focuses on novel photosensitisers with improved tissue penetration, optimised light-delivery hardware, and integration with personalised multi-modal regimens to maximise tumour control and minimise collateral damage to normal neural structures.
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Photodynamic Therapy Applications in Malignant Brain Tumors publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in photodynamic therapy applications in malignant brain tumors across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Photosensitiser: A light-sensitive compound that, upon activation by a specific wavelength, transfers energy to molecular oxygen to generate cytotoxic species.
Singlet oxygen: A highly reactive form of molecular oxygen generated during PDT that reacts with cellular components to induce apoptosis or necrosis.
Fluorescence-guided resection: Intraoperative visualisation of tumour tissue via emitted fluorescence following photosensitiser accumulation, improving margin detection.
Interstitial photodynamic therapy (I-PDT): Delivery of light via implanted optical fibres to activate photosensitisers in deep or residual tumours beyond the reach of surface illumination.
Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD): Use of photosensitiser-induced fluorescence to map tumour boundaries without necessarily performing cytotoxic light activation.
References
- Advancements and challenges in brain cancer therapeutics. Exploration (2024).
- Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy—A Focused Review. Cancers (2017).
- Fluorescence‐Guided Resection of Malignant Glioma with 5‐ALA. International Journal of Biomedical Imaging (2016).
- Photodynamic opening of blood-brain barrier.. Biomedical Optics Express (2017).
- Photodynamic therapy mediated immune therapy of brain tumors. Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation (2018).
- Intraoperative Photodynamic Diagnosis Using Talaporfin Sodium Simultaneously Applied for Photodynamic Therapy against Malignant Glioma: A Prospective Clinical Study. Frontiers in Neurology (2018).
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