Photodynamic therapy in patients with skin metastases of melanoma

Results of treating 114 skin metastases of melanoma in 21 patients are represented. Melanoma progression with cutaneous metastases after previous treatment was diagnosed in all patients. The method of prolonged photodynamic therapy developed by authors with fotosens administrated intravenously at dose of 0.4 mg/kg of body weight was used in the study. First session of tumor irradiation was performed 2 h after injection of photosensitizer. Patients underwent superfi cial or contact irradiation depending on topography and type of growth of metastatic foci. Course of treatment accounted for 7–10 sessions of photodynamic therapy with 24 h interval, light dose delivered to tumor for one session – 350 J/cm2. Signifi cant clinical effect (complete and partial tumor regression) was obtained in 89% of cases for developed method.