Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive cancer with dismal survival rates and few new treatment options. Fluorescence guided resection of GBM followed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown promise in several chemo- or radiotherapy non-responsive GBM treatments clinically. PDT is an emerging light and photosensitizer (PS) mediated cytotoxic method. However, as with other therapeutic modalities, the outcomes are variable largely due to the nonpersonalization of dose parameters. The variability can be attributed to the differences in heterogeneous photosensitizer accumulation in tumors. Building upon our previous findings on utilizing PS fluorescence for designing tumor-specific PDT dose, we explore the use of photoacoustic imaging, a technique that provides contrast based on the tissue optical absorption properties, to obtain 3D information on the tumoral photosensitizer accumulation. The findings of this study will form the basis for customized photodynamic therapy for glioblastoma and have the potential to serve as a platform for treatment of other cancers.

Date Published: 13 March 2013
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8568, Optical Methods for Tumor Treatment and Detection: Mechanisms and Techniques in Photodynamic Therapy XXII, 85681C (13 March 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2010684

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8568:
Optical Methods for Tumor Treatment and Detection: Mechanisms and Techniques in Photodynamic Therapy XXII
David H. Kessel; Tayyaba Hasan, Editor(s)