Reduction of Muscle-Invasive Tumors by Photodynamic Therapy with Tetrahydroporphyrin-Tetratosylat in an Orthotopic Rat Bladder Cancer Model.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising option for minimal-invasive treatment of bladder cancer. Efficacy of PDT in muscle-invasive urothelial cancer is still hampered by low tissue penetration of most photosensitizers due to short excitation wavelength. The novel light reactive agent tetrahydroporphyrin-tetratosylat (THPTS) is excitable at near-infrared (760 nm), allowing tissue penetration of up to 15 mm.