Photodynamic therapy proves worth in UK assessment, but more research needed
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) “shows potential” for the treatment of pre-cancerous skin conditions, Barrett's oesophagus and certain cancers, but its value in comparison with other technologies remains unclear. So concluded a study just published by a team at the UK’s Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, following a health technology assessment (HTA) commissioned for the NHS. The cancers it considered were of the: biliary tract, brain, head/neck, lung, oesophagus and skin. “PDT showed potential promise...across the conditions and sites investigated. However, its place in relation to other available treatments was unclear and there is a need for further, high quality research in this area,” the team concluded.