Modern aspects of photodynamic therapy of basal cell skin cancer

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the most effective treatments for basal cell skin cancer (BCC). As the incidence rate of BCC is increasing worldwide, interest in developing new methods for diagnosing and treating this disease, taking into account long-term cosmetic results, is growing. The review article presents the results of domestic and foreign studies on the treatment of BCC with PDT. The presented results of studies from various domestic and foreign clinics indicate the high efficiency of independent PDT and a combination of PDT with other treatment methods. PDT is proposed to be used in combination with surgical methods and radiation therapy, immunomodulating and chemotherapeutic agents, and inhibitors of molecules involved in the carcinogenic process. These new strategies open the way to increasing the effectiveness of treatment and prevention of BCC. Moreover, in all studies, the safety of this non-invasive treatment, a low level of adverse reactions during therapy, good tolerance for the patient and excellent cosmetic treatment results are noted. The guidelines currently being developed in Europe and the United States provide consistent expert advice that reflects current published evidence of treatment outcomes for BCC using PDT. Moreover, the recommendations emphasize that the treatment plan for patients with “difficult to treat” BCC should be discussed at an interdisciplinary oncological council.