BUFFALO, NY – Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is recruiting patients who have been diagnosed with superficial cancerous and precancerous lesions of the mouth (oral cavity) to volunteer for a research study to evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Photofrin® in destroying or controlling their disease. Researchers expect the study of as many as 34 patients to last for five years. 

PDT – developed at RPCI – involves two-steps. First, patients are injected with a photosensitizer (Photofrin®), that accumulates in the lesions. This photosensitizer has no effect until activated by visible, usually red, light. Therefore, in the second step, physicians will shine a light from a laser that will cause the photosensitizer to become active and attack the lesions.

PDT with Photofrin® is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of certain types of esophageal and lung cancers. Although not approved for superficial cancerous and precancerous lesions of the oral cavity, several investigators have used PDT with Photofrin® as an investigational approach to treating these lesions. To date, overall complete removal in all of the studies is reported to be 75-85 percent.

Researchers hope to duplicate the results of other studies and to expand the number of patients treated by PDT for these diseases and to identify local side effects (good or bad) of the treatment.

For more information, please call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724).

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. For more information, visit the RPCI website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.