Barrett's oesophagus and photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Barrett's oesophagus is a precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. This cancer has the fastest growing incidence of any solid tumour in the Western world. Surveillance of Barrett's oesophagus is routinely undertaken to detect early malignant transformation. However, ablative endoscopic treatments are available and these can obliterate the abnormal epithelium, allowing neo-squamous re-growth. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using haematoporphyrin derivative (HpD)/porfimer sodium (Photofrin®), m-tetrahydroxyphenyl chlorin (mTHPC) and 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) utilise such a technique. In this non-thermal method of ablation, the photosensitisers, together with light and oxygen, produce local tissue destruction. The use of PDT ablation of Barrett's oesophagus is reviewed.