Pharmaceutics (Apr 2023)

An Update on Recent Advances of Photodynamic Therapy for Primary Cutaneous Lymphomas

  • Wei-Ting Liu,
  • Han-Tang Wang,
  • Yi-Hsuan Yeh,
  • Tak-Wah Wong

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051328
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 5
p. 1328

Abstract

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Primary cutaneous lymphomas are rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas consisting of heterogeneous disease entities. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilizing photosensitizers irradiated with a specific wavelength of light in the presence of oxygen exerts promising anti-tumor effects on non-melanoma skin cancer, yet its application in primary cutaneous lymphomas remains less recognized. Despite many in vitro data showing PDT could effectively kill lymphoma cells, clinical evidence of PDT against primary cutaneous lymphomas is limited. Recently, a phase 3 “FLASH” randomized clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of topical hypericin PDT for early-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. An update on recent advances of photodynamic therapy in primary cutaneous lymphomas is provided.

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