Temoporfin
Encyclopedia
Temoporfin is a photosensitizer (based on porphyrin
) used in photodynamic therapy
for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma
of the head and neck
.
It is marketed in the European Union
under the brand name Foscan. The US FDA deemed Foscan non-approvable in 2000. The EU approved its use in June 2001.
Good results were obtained in 21 of 35 patients treated in Germany.
It is photoactivated at 652 nm i.e. by red light.
Patients can remain photosensitive for several weeks after treatment.
Porphyrin
Porphyrins are a group of organic compounds, many naturally occurring. One of the best-known porphyrins is heme, the pigment in red blood cells; heme is a cofactor of the protein hemoglobin. Porphyrins are heterocyclic macrocycles composed of four modified pyrrole subunits interconnected at...
) used in photodynamic therapy
Photodynamic therapy
Photodynamic therapy is used clinically to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including malignant cancers, and is recognised as a treatment strategy which is both minimally invasive and minimally toxic...
for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma , occasionally rendered as "squamous-cell carcinoma", is a histologically distinct form of cancer. It arises from the uncontrolled multiplication of malignant cells deriving from epithelium, or showing particular cytological or tissue architectural characteristics of...
of the head and neck
Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers that start in the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity , nasal cavity , paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas , originating from the mucosal lining...
.
It is marketed in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
under the brand name Foscan. The US FDA deemed Foscan non-approvable in 2000. The EU approved its use in June 2001.
Good results were obtained in 21 of 35 patients treated in Germany.
It is photoactivated at 652 nm i.e. by red light.
Patients can remain photosensitive for several weeks after treatment.