Photodynamic therapy of non-melanoma skin cancers - development of a comprehensive image-guided planning system for personalized treatment

在放射治疗中，剂量测定和治疗计划对于电离辐射来说是非常先进的。辐射剂量被准确定义，并且它与 ** 临床反应之间的关系被很好地理解。对于光动力疗法（PDT），PDT** 剂量的定义尚不清楚，其与临床反应的关系也尚未精确定义。目前，非黑色素瘤皮肤癌（NMSC）的PDT临床方案相对简单：给予光敏剂，在照射光之前经过一段时间，然后用特定通量率的光照射患者。相同的方案 ** 适用于整个患者群体，因此，在没有 ** 详细的定制计划的情况下进行NMSC的PDT，该计划考虑了放射治疗中实践的患者之间的差异 **。我们的研究目标是在体内测量光学性质和 ** 功能参数，如氧水平，以及测量时间和 ** 空间光敏剂浓度摄取。有了这些定量指标，我们希望 ** 我们将能够建模和预测个体患者对PDT的反应。更好的 ** 剂量测定将促进PDT的发展和利用，类似于放射治疗 **，该领域非常定量和循证。最终，**PDT治疗的患者特定计划将增加NMSC临床结果。

In Radiotherapy, dosimetry and treatment planning are highly advanced for ionizing radiation.**Radiation dose is accurately defined and the relationship between it and**clinical response is well understood. For photodynamic therapy (PDT), the definition of PDT**dose is unclear and how it correlates with clinical response has yet to be precisely defined.**Present-day clinical protocols for PDT of non-melenoma skin cancer (NMSC) are relatively**straight-forward: a photosensitizer is administered, a period of time elapses before shining**light and then light with a specific fluence rate illuminates the patient. The same protocol is**applied to an entire patient population and as a result, PDT of NMSC is conducted without**detailed customized planning that takes into account patient to patient variability as practiced**in radiotherapy. Our research goal is to work on in vivo measurement of optical properties and**functional parameters such as oxygen levels together with measuring the temporal and**spatial photosensitizer concentration uptake. With these quantitative metrics, the hope is that**we will be able to model and predict the response of individual patients to PDT.. Better**dosimetry will advance the development and utilization of PDT similar to radiation therapy**where the field is very quantitative and evidence-based. Ultimately patient-specific planning of**PDT treatment will increase NMSC clinical outcomes.