Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) is a proven treatment that optimises the use of non-toxic photosensitisers and visible light to kill cancer and infectious diseases, and stimulate the immune system. Invion is developing the next-generation PDT that is more effective and overcomes the many shortcomings of current PDT treatments.
Each photosensitising agent or drug is activated by light of a specific wavelength, which in turn determines how far the light can travel into the body to address specific cancer types.
Photosensitising agents are administered topically or intravenously. The photosensitiser concentrates at the site of the tumour and then light of a specific wavelength is shone on the cancer area, which activates the reaction in the tumour. When exposed to specific wavelengths of light, photosensitising agents produce a form of oxygen that destroys cancer cells without damaging nearby tissue.
The ability of a photosensitiser to kill cells depends upon the concentration of the compound and how much light energy is delivered to activate it.
In contrast to surgery, or radiotherapy and chemotherapy which are mostly immunosuppressive, PDT causes acute inflammation, expression of heat-shock proteins, and invasion and infiltration of a tumour by leukocytes.