Background and Objectives: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a photoreactive purpurin, tin ethyl etiopurpurin (SnET2, Purlytin, Miravant Medical Technologies, Santa Barbara, CA), was investigated as a treatment for cutaneous metastatic disease that had failed other treatment options. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Three patients with biopsyproven metastatic adenocarcinoma of the skin were treated with a single dose of the study drug. Twenty-four hours later, the patients were exposed to a laser light at 664 nm in multiple light fields. Patients were followed for 6 months for safety, efficacy, recurrence, and palliative response. Results: After PDT with SnET2, complete response was observed in all 13 treated lesions in three patients, with no evidence of recurrence at any treated site at the 6-month follow-up. Two patients subsequently died of distant metastatic disease. One patient with local chest wall recurrence after mastectomy was disease-free 24 months after PDT. Conclusions: PDT with SnET2 could be an effective treatment in locally advanced metastatic carcinoma of the skin.
This combination of weekly docetaxel and vinblastine is effective, well tolerated, and associated with improved quality of life in most of the patients treated. Although estramustine was not given, the risk of thromboembolic disease remains significant.
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