Photodynamic therapy involves injection of light-sensitive molecules into the pleural space several days before surgery. These are taken up by the tumor cells, which then have intense light beams directed at them during surgery, resulting in the death of those cells. In good-risk patients with small malignant mesotheliomas, photodynamic therapy has been moderately successful, although complications may occur with poorly directed light.
In combination with surgical procedures, photodynamic therapy has not improved survival or local disease control. Furthermore, it has damaging effects on normal and healing tissues, and the post-operative death rates may be high. Though this treatment is being studied for use with early stages of mesothelioma in the chest, it is not likely to become standard treatment for malignant mesothelioma.
