Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy involves the use of a photosensitizing chemical which induces cell destruction when activated by a specific wavelength of light. Selective cellular uptake of these chemicals could be used to treat various epithelial disorders. The objective of this experiment is to evaluate photodynamic therapy using the photosensitizer pthalocyanine on cottontail rabbit papilloma virus induced tumors of rabbit epithelium previously transplanted to severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. This experiment will serve as an animal model for the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in humans.

Department of Otolaryngology-HNS
Robert Sprecher, MD, James Arnold, MD, Cliff Megerian, MD

Department of Radiation Oncology
Nancy Oleinick, PhD

Department of Chemistry
Malcom Kinney, PhD