Hematoporphyrin-derivative and photoradiation therapy of malignant tumors.

Kodak projectors with #2418 red Corning filters were used as a light source to treat cutaneous and subcutaneous malignancies in five patients who previously had been given hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD). An argon dye laser system was used to treat malignancies in patients who also were given the HpD. These tumors included 11 melanomas of the eye, three carcinomas of the esophagus, one melanoma of the esophagus, four carcinomas of the lung, three basal cell skin cancers, and one retropharyngeal metastatic oral cancer. Clinical results and technical problems of this therapy are discussed.