This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Lucy H. Y. Young, MD, PhD; Martha A. Howard, MD; Li Kuan Hu, MD; Rosa Y. Kim, MD; Evangelos S. Gragoudas, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1996;114(2):186-192.

Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy of pigmented choroidal melanoma using a liposomal preparation of benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid (BPD), verteporfin.

Design
Pigmented choroidal melanomas were established in 25 New Zealand albino rabbit eyes. The animals were treated with daily injections of cyclosporine, and tumor growth was monitored with funduscopic examination and ultrasonography. Fifteen minutes after intravenous injection of BPD (2 mg/kg), the tumors were irradiated at 692 nm through an argon-pumped dye laser with the delivered fluence ranging between 40 and 150 J/cm². Control animals were treated with light only, photosensitizer only, or observation only. Tumor growth was monitored by indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and ultrasonography. Histologic examination was performed.

Results
Eighteen tumor-bearing rabbits were treated with light and BPD; 16 were followed up for 1 month, and two were killed immediately for histologic examination. Tumors regressed in all eyes treated with 60 J/cm² or more. With fluence of 40 J/cm², tumor regrowth was observed in one animal within 10 days of treatment. In the three control groups, all animals showed continuous tumor growth. Histologic examination of the eyes treated with photosensitizer and light immediately after treatment showed prominent vascular occlusion throughout the full thickness of the tumor. One month after treatment, tumor necrosis and infiltration of mononuclear cells and pigment-laden macrophages were the predominant findings.

Conclusions
Photodynamic therapy with BPD may have a role in the treatment of pigmented choroidal melanomas.

Author Affiliations
From the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston. The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary has a proprietary interest in this technology under a research agreement with Coherent Inc, Palo Alto, Calif, and as part of a patent application.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Treatment of Experimental Choroidal Melanoma With an Nd:Yttrium-Lanthanum-Fluoride Laser at 1047 nm
Krause et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:357-363.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A New Drug-Screening Procedure for Photosensitizing Agents Used in Photodynamic Therapy for CNV
Lange et al.
IOVS 2001;42:38-46.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Photodynamic Therapy of Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-related Macular Degeneration With Verteporfin: One-Year Results of 2 Randomized Clinical Trials--TAP Report 1
Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration With
Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1329-1345.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Photodynamic Therapy With Verteporfin for Choroidal Neovascularization Caused by Age-related Macular Degeneration: Results of a Single Treatment in a Phase 1 and 2 Study
Miller et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:1161-1173.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT