Efficacy of Antiangiogenic Photodynamic Therapy with BPD-MA in 19 Dogs with Head Tumors
PDT was effectively able to treat locally solid tumors without any serious side effects. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of antiangiogenic PDT using BPD-MA in nineteen dogs with head tumors. The tumor was irradiated with 690-nm laser light at 15 minutes after initiating the intravenous infusion of 0.5 mg/kg BPD-MA. In cases that were followed up for more than 1 year after PDT, the median survival time of 6 dogs with oral tumors was 423 days (range, 300-743 days) and the 1-year survival rate was 67%. In 5 dogs with nasal cavity tumors, the values were 533 days (range, 129-694 days) and 60%, respectively. The CT enhancement values before and after PDT were significantly different (p < 0.001) and were 54.3 ± 25.8 Hounsfield units (HU) (21 treatments in 15 dogs) and 5.5 ± 5.7 HU (18 treatments in 11 dogs), respectively. The mean CT enhancement value of the tumors in which 19 treatments was effective was 57.2 HU and the one for tumors in which 2 treatments was ineffective was 27.5 HU. The main side effect was temporary edema around the treated area for 1 week after PDT; however, it did not require any particular treatment. Antiangiogenic PDT is a promising method for canine solid malignant tumors without any serious side effects. Angiographic CT plays a useful role in selecting antiangiogenic PDT cases and in determining the therapeutic effect after antiangiogenic PDT. Conversely, antiangiogenic PDT using BPD-MA could be finished at short times and performed repeatedly because of BPD-MA rapid clearance and low accumulation in tissues. It is concluded that antiangiogenic PDT was effectively able to treat locally solid tumors without any serious side effects.