What is the mechanism that “kills” the cancer?
The damage to cancer cells results from a multi-step process. First the photosensitizer is administered which leads to the selective accumulation on the target cancer cells. Following a period of time specific for each agent to allow the photosensitizer to clear from normal tissue, light is applied. Because the agent molecules are light sensitive, they are energized and become unstable and electrons are donated to oxygen in the immediate vicinity creating a special type of reactive oxygen species called singlet oxygen. These molecules too are unstable and also off-load energy to the adjacent cellular structures of the cancer cells which damages and in many cases kills the cancer.
