Photodynamic therapy guidelines for the management of oral leucoplakia

Abstract

Light-mediated therapy is a promising approach for treatment of oral leukoplakia (OLK), white patches inside the mouth that cannot be wiped away and that can become cancerous. Surgical removal carries a risk of damaging delicate facial structures, or causing potentially disfiguring scarring. Hang Zhao and Xin Zeng at the West China Hospital of Stomatology and coworkers have reviewed use of photodynamic therapy (PDT), a minimally invasive alternative to treat OLK. For treatment, the lesion is coated with a photosensitizer solution, then illuminated with a laser (or LED), triggering release of reactive oxygen species, which kill nearby cells. The treatment can be focused very precisely on a specific tissue, without damaging other cells. The researchers recommend further research to determine long-term effectiveness against OLK, and to develop standardized protocols for wider application of this promising method.

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)(81771081, 81572663)