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Biologic therapy – Surgery – The Netherlands Cancer Institute
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Description: |
Patients: This Phase I/II study involved 28 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Treatment: The treatment consisted of surgery (pleuropneumonectomy) with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (the drug mTHPC). (Photodynamic therapy is a technique that uses non-thermal lasers to activate light-sensitive drugs.) Toxicity: Three patients died in the perioperative period (the period immediately preceding, during and after a surgical procedure.) One of the three deaths was directly related to photodynamic therapy. Results: The overall median survival time was 10 months. Support: The study was supported in part by Scotia Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. Scotia manufactures the drug, mTHPC. Correspondence: Paul Bass, MD, PhD |