Photodynamic therapy in treatment of cutaneous and choroidal melanoma

Abstract

Melanoma is a malignant, the most aggressive and dreaded skin cancer. This form of cancer arises from melanocytes and may grow rapidly and metastasize. Melanoma predominantly occurs in skin, but could also be found in the mouth, iris and retina of the eye. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, with a steeply rising incidence and a poor prognosis in its advanced stages. It is highly resistant to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, although modern biological therapies are showing some promise. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a novel effective modality of the treatment of skin cancers, opens up new possibilities in melanoma treatment also. Many experimental photodynamic therapy studies were performed. The results of many experiments indicate that that photodynamic therapy may be a promising tool for adjuvant treatment in advanced melanoma.

Keywords: Cancer therapy; Melanoma; Photodynamic therapy; Skin cancer.