Clinical and immunological response to photodynamic therapy in the treatment of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia

Abstract

Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a premalignant condition of the vulva and its incidence is increasing. The common type of VIN is associated with oncogenic types of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. The standard modalities of treatment for VIN, surgical excision and laser ablation, are both sub-optimal, associated with high rates of disease recurrence. There is a need for non-surgical treatment options for VIN and photodynamic therapy (PDT), by altering the local immunological parameters, has the potential to clear both VIN and HPV. This article reviews the studies of PDT treatment for VIN and discusses the clinical and immunological responses to PDT treatment in the various studies.