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Sono-Photo Dynamic Therapy

What is Sonodynamic and Photodynamic Therapy Combined?

Sono-PDT is a safe, non-toxic and non-invasive way of destroying cancer cells, as well as of enhancing immune protective function. This treatment uses the light of a particular wavelength and sound of a particular frequency to activate a light- and sonosensitive material which attaches selectively to tumor cells, causing their breakdown.

This treatment is entirely safe and the only side-effects are related to the destruction of the tumor cells that produce an inflammatory response intended at clearing the dead tumor tissue. Source

This study says:
Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that SPDT has almost no toxicity, but may dramatically enhance the conventional therapeutic efficacy in advanced refractory esophagocadiac and gastric adenocarcinoma. SPDT has a good trend to be a new systemic, low toxicity tumor therapy and merit for further investigation.

This study says:
Sonodynamic followed by photodynamic therapy (SDT and PDT) can help to get a reasonable anti-tumor effect because the ultrasound can penetrate deeper into the cancer tissue compared with the laser light (635 nm).

This Review says:
Sono-PDT also blocks angiogenesis, the crucial conduit for cancer cell nutrition. Since the whole body is exposed to the light, all cancer or pre-cancerous cells within a range are affected, allowing the destruction and inhibition of cancer anywhere in the body. This treatment is entirely safe and the only side-effects are related to the destruction of the tumor cells that produce an inflammatory response intended at clearing the dead tumor tissue.

A combination of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), named sono-photodynamic therapy (S-PDT), is a new composite cancer therapy. Because the therapy can significantly improve the tumor curing effect, it has good application prospects in cancer prevention and treatment. Source: PubMed

Photodynamic therapyTreatment with drugs that become active when exposed to light.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT)
Consists of the synergetic interaction between ultrasound and a chemical agent.

Sonodynamic Therapy

Sonodynamic Therapy
Source: Research Article published in International Journal of Hyperthermia
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has emerged as a promising option for the minimally invasive treatment of solid cancerous tumours. SDT requires the combination of three distinct components: a sensitising drug, ultrasound, and molecular oxygen.

Individually, these components are non-toxic but when combined together generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). The major advantage of SDT over its close relative photodynamic therapy (PDT), is the increased penetration of ultrasound through mammalian tissue compared to light. As a result, SDT can be used to treat a wider array of deeper and less accessible tumours than PDT.

This study states: Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) represents an emerging approach that offers the possibility of non-invasively eradicating solid tumors in a site-directed manner. It involves the sensitization of target tissues with a non-toxic sensitizing chemical agent and subsequent exposure of the sensitized tissues to relatively low-intensity ultrasound. Essentially, both aspects (the sensitization and ultrasound exposure) are harmless, and cytotoxic events occur when both are combined.

This study states: The major advantage of SDT over its close relative photodynamic therapy (PDT), is the increased penetration of ultrasound through mammalian tissue compared to light. As a result, SDT can be used to treat a wider array of deeper and less accessible tumours than PDT.

This study states: Theoretically, SDT using low-intensity ultrasound in combination with a sonosensitizer might be effective in all types of cancer without a need for choosing the target molecules, proteins and/or genes. Recent reports performed in both in vivo and in vitro studies support this hypothesis, and thus, SDT is a promising candidate for non-invasive and repeatable cancer therapy.

Photodynamic Therapy

In the first step of PDT for cancer treatment, a photosensitizing agent is injected into the bloodstream. The agent is absorbed by cells all over the body but stays in cancer cells longer than it does in normal cells. Approximately 24 to 72 hours after injection, when most of the agent has left normal cells but remains in cancer cells, the tumor is exposed to light. The photosensitizer in the tumor absorbs the light and produces an active form of oxygen that destroys nearby cancer cells.

In addition to directly killing cancer cells, PDT appears to shrink or destroy tumors in two other ways. The photosensitizer can damage blood vessels in the tumor, thereby preventing the cancer from receiving necessary nutrients. PDT also may activate the immune system to attack the tumor cells.
Source: National Cancer Institute

This study states: Clinical studies revealed that PDT can be curative particularly in early-stage tumors. It can prolong survival in inoperable cancers and significantly improve quality of life. Minimal normal tissue toxicity, negligible systemic effects, greatly reduced long-term morbidity, lack of intrinsic or acquired resistance mechanisms, and excellent cosmetic as well as organ function-sparing effects of this treatment make it a valuable therapeutic option for combination treatments. With a number of recent technological improvements, PDT has the potential to become integrated into the mainstream of cancer treatment.

This study says: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with pleural spread is incurable, with median survival rates ranging from 6 to 9 months. Surgery alone fails to locally control this disease or extend survival beyond the accepted treatment, palliative chemotherapy.

We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the effects on local control and survival of combining surgery with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT), a light-based cancer treatment, in patients with NSCLC with pleural spread.

Twenty-two patients with NSCLC were enrolled; 17 underwent complete debulking and PDT, three underwent partial debulking/PDT, and two patients were unresectable. Local control of pleural disease at 6 months was achieved in 11 of 15 … assessable patients.

Median overall survival for all 22 patients was 21.7 months

Where can I get this treatment?

The Hyperthermia Centre Hannover, Germany

Photodynamic therapy (only) is available in Ireland at a number of hospitals and clinics including MATER MISERICORDIAE HOSPITAL, Dublin
ST.VINCENT’S UNIVERSITY HOSP, Dublin
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
MID WESTERN REGIONAL HOSPITAL, Limerick

Sono-photo dynamic therapy is available at Hope4Cancer Institute, Mexico.

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