Endoscopic filter fluorometer for emission detection of Protoporphyrin IX and its direct precursors in PDT and PDD

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potential option for treatment of cancer since it can be performed non- invasive for superficial cancers or minimal-invasive with low traumatization. But PDT is intrinsically inefficient due to the complex accumulation of the photosensitizing drug inside the tumor and the processes of heme syntheses to create the needed cell killing components. To optimize the outcome of PDT and increase acceptance as viable option it is necessary to predict the optimal time for the start of the treatment based on measurable precursors. A former cell study proposed a new filter fluorometer in a complex and sensitive setup. In this work we now designed and tested a simplified system that can be used in combination with standard endoscopic imaging systems. This system will be used as base to prove viability of this approach for a future clinical study.

Keywords

• photodynamic therapy
• endoscopic systems
• ppix
• cp-iii
• urology
• bladder cancer