PDT Treatment of the Prostate

The two main clinical dysfunctions of the prostate are benign prostatic hypertrophy and malignant dnumber of innovative approaches to treat these diseases have been introduced over the last decade toTURP and intraoperative surgical approaches. These include pharmacological manipulation through alphdilatation, laser thermal ablation, focused ultrasound and transrectal or transurethral hyperthermiaablation under ultrasound guidance for carcinoma of the prostate. Photodynamic Therapy is a relativetreatment for cancer and other hyper- proliferating tissues that uses a photoactivating drug and ligthe targeted tissue. it has been recently shown by Selman that the prostate of older dogs selectivelsecond generation photosensitizer SnET2 relative to the urethra and bladder. Such selective uptake rgenerating selective photochemical coagulation of the central portion of the prostate while not prodphysiological consequences. Preliminary studies in the dog have shown this to be possible. It is theto expand the pilot study of the concept. The delivery system includes a dosimetry monitors at the ufor accurate in-vivo dosimetry. Also interstitial illumination using cylindrical diffusers will be stested in dogs to determine their in-vivo performance along with determination of the optical characand to further evaluate the potential for generating selective necrosis of the gland.