| Abstrakt: |
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled and abnormal cell growth, leading to serious health consequences. Although various approaches are available for treating cancer, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy, the severe adverse effects of these approaches limit their clinical effectiveness. New cancer treatment strategies including phototherapy uses light to treat cancer, which has attracted wide interest in the oncology research community. There are two types of phototherapy: photodynamic therapy (PDT) and phototherapy (PTT). PDT requires the administration of a photosensitizing agent and light exposure at a particular wavelength. On the other hand, PTT uses a photothermal agent that activates and kills cancer cells at a longer wavelength of light; hence, it is less energetic and, therefore, less harmful to other cells and tissues. PTT is gaining tremendous popularity because of its limited side-effects. A significant downside of PDT is that the photosensitizing drug stays in the body for a long time, which renders the patients extremely sensitive to light exposure. PDT is useful for the treatment of lining organs as they are can be easily reached by the light source. Although PDT is helpful for treating lining organs, its potential side-effects have been reported in the treatment of skin mouth esophagus and lung cancer, among others. Therefore, PTT remains a good alternative for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
