Does it matter if a patient has had prior chemo therapy?
One experienced clinician in PDT states: It can be applied before, or after, chemotherapy, ionizing radiation, or surgery, without compromising these treatments or being compromised itself. Many studies, however, have shown the presence of a strong and uncompromised immune system is a critical element for the full benefit of the PDT therapy and chemo therapy causes significant damage and lessening of the immune response. It follows that chemotherapy given before PDT will diminish the beneficial response from the agent and light. Also many studies had shown that a competent immune system in combination with PDT leads to the production of an auto vaccination and tumor specific antibodies. If chemo is given soon after the therapy this process would also reduce the effectiveness of the overall favorable response. Fortunately, many patients have received significant favorable responses with PDT, in spite of having prior heavy chemotherapy etc.
