Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel treatment for variety of cancer that involves two-stage process: intravenous administration of a photosensitizer that is selectively retained in higher concentrations in the tumor than in surrounding tissue, and carries its tumor-killing effect by photo-activation of the photosensitizer containing tumor tissue. It has been demonstrated to be an effect treatment alternative for the patients with central-located lung cancer or esophageal cancer, who was medically-inoperable or unwilling to surgery. In the National Taiwan University Hospital, we performed PDT for patient with the above-mentioned diseases and patients with lung cancer presenting with pleural seeding. Completed remission was achieved in all the patients with endobronchial lung cancer (n=3) and 70% (7/10) of those who with early esophageal cancer, with the longest follow-up period of 42 and 48 months respectively. Although among the patients of lung cancer with pleural seeding receiving PDT and tumor resection, only one patients has mortality at the present time of follow-up (range from 4 to 50 months), the study is ongoing and waiting for evaluation with more patient population and longer-period of follow-up.
Conclusion: PDT might offer an effective treatment option for the patients with early central located lung cancer and esophageal cancer, who is unsuitable for or unwilling to surgical intervention.