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. 2020 Sep;123(6):871-873.
doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0926-3. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

How promising is phototherapy for cancer?

Huayun Shi  1 , Peter J Sadler  2
Affiliations

How promising is phototherapy for cancer?

Huayun Shi et al. Br J Cancer. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Oncological phototherapy, including current photodynamic therapy (PDT), developmental photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), shows promising photo-efficacy for superficial and internal tumours. The dual application of light and photochemotherapeutic agents allows accurate cancer targeting, low invasiveness and novel mechanisms of action. Current advances in new light sources and photoactive agents are encouraging for future development.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a FDA-approved anticancer photosensitisers; b metal-based photoactive anticancer complexes under development.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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