Table 2.
An overview of key clinical trials assessing the effects of PDT on oral cancers
| Type of study | Included Patients | PDT Type | Outcomes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical trial phase I | Oral dysplasia/CIS/early-stage HNSCC | HPPH-PDT | HPPH-PDT proved to be a safe treatment option for the three types of cancer studied, especially for early-stage oral cancer | [108] |
| Retrospective study | No oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral mucosal dysplasia | Photofrin®-PDT | The treatment led to full recovery without any lasting functional or aesthetic issues. | [94] |
| Retrospective study | One patient with recurrent BOT-SCC with a history of radiotherapy and one with a history of concomitant chemoradiotherapy | Temoporfin-PDT | Outstanding oncological and functional outcomes, with no recurrence observed over one to two years of follow-up | [150] |
| Phase 1 clinical trial | High-grade dysplasia/CIS or micro-invasive SCC | ALA-PDT | The combined PDT reduced light restriction periods but led to some adverse effects, such as an initial high rate of marginal recurrence, grade 3 mucositis, odynophagia, voice changes, photosensitivity, and grade 5 sepsis. | [151] |
| Retrospective study | Superficial oral SCC or CIS | Photofrin®-PDT | The combined PDT yielded satisfactory results in managing superficial oral cancer, yet it led to adverse effects, such as recurrence (particularly in red patches), photosensitivity, sequestrum formation, maxillary sinus perforation, pain, and swelling. | [152] |
| Retrospective cohort analysis | Oral cavity cancer | Meta-tetrahydroxy phenyl chlorin (mTHPC)- PDT | Outstanding disease-free survival outcomes were achieved with post-surgery PDT at a minimum 6-week interval. | [153] |
| Prospective cohort clinical study | T1/T2 N0 oral SCC | mTHPC-PDT | A comparable modality with reduced morbidity in managing low-risk tumors | [154] |
| Retrospective clinical study | Cancerous lesions of the gingiva and oral mucosa | Topical ALA-PDT synchronized with ICT | Explored as a safe and beneficial addition to ICT for patients with localized OSCC | [155] |
| Clinical case report | An extensive tumor on the mouth floor | PDT with Redaporfin | Observation of complete destruction of all visible tumors | [156] |
| Prospective cohort clinical study | Stage IV tongue base carcinoma | Ultrasound-guided interstitial PDT + Foscan | Successful treatment of advanced/recurrent tongue base carcinoma | [157] |
| Clinical trial | High-risk dysplasia, CIS, and T1 SCC of the larynx | HPPH-mediated PDT | Beneficial for early-stage laryngeal cancer | [158] |
| Clinical study | Oral SCC without metastasis | talaporfin sodium-mediated PDT (t-PDT) | t-PDT is potentially beneficial for oral SCC treatment, as Talaporfin sodium is rapidly eliminated from the body | [159] |
| Retrospective clinical study | Early-stage neoplasms of the oral cavity and oropharynx (Tis-T2) | mTHPC-PDT | PDT yielded more favorable outcomes, with overall and complete response rates of 90.7% and 70.8%, respectively | [99] |
| A cohort study | Early-stage oral cavity malignancies | mTHPC + PDT | PDT could be beneficial as an alternative to surgery | [160] |
| Retrospective clinical study | Early stage OSCC | mTHPC + PDT | Comparable outcomes to surgery for T1 tumors, but not for T2 tumors | [161] |
| Retrospective cohort analysis | Oral/oropharyngeal SCC | mTHPC + PDT | Offering the potential for achieving an acceptable toxicity profile and stable outcomes | [162] |
| Clinical study | Recurrent tongue cancer | mTHPC + iPDT | Being beneficial in inoperable tumors as an alternative to palliative care | [163] |
| Clinical study | Recurrent paranasal sinus tumors | mTHPC + PDT | Being safe when surgery only partially removes these tumors | [164] |
| Clinical study | Persistent/recurrent NPC | NP-PDT | Being effective in treating these kinds of cancers when they are unsuitable for conventional treatments. An effective strategy involves combining NP-PDT and ENT-MNS. | [165] |
| Clinical study | Laryngeal malignancies | HpD/temoporfin + PDT | PDT presents a viable and safe alternative with a success rate akin to conventional methods. There is a potential for preserving organs and functions with this therapy. | [166] |
| Cohort case series | Recurrent advanced nasopharynx carcinoma | mTHPC + PDT | Successful management of nasopharyngeal cancer was achieved using this therapy as a palliative measure. | [167] |
| Clinical trial | Persistent/recurrent NPC | temoporfin + PDT | Residual or recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer can be treated with this therapy. | [168] |
| Phase II clinical study | Local recurrent or residual NPC | Foscan® | NPC failures with a depth of less than 10 mm can be treated effectively with PDT | [169] |
| Retrospective clinical study | Tis-T2N0M0 oral/oropharynx SqCCA | Photofrin®-PDT | Being curative in primary/failed cases of early malignancies of the oral cavity/ oropharynx | [170] |
| Retrospective clinical study | Residual/recurrent HNSCC | Porfimer sodium-PDT | Being effective therapy to treat HNSCC leads to an increase in the quality of life. | [171] |
| Clinical trial phase I | HNSCC | HPPH-PDT | In adjuvant application of surgery, HPPH-PDT appears to be safe | [172] |
| Retrospective clinical study | Recurrent/secondary Oropharyngeal/oral carcinoma | Temoporfin-PDT | Being safe as it has low toxicity | [173] |