Photodynamic Therapy in India: Advanced and Affordable Treatment Options

Photodynamic Therapy in India

Photodynamic Therapy: This type of light therapy utilizes a combination of activated photo sensitizing drug (a light sensitive medication), light at a specific wavelength and oxygen to selectively kill abnormal or diseased cells.

How It Works

• Administration of Photosensitizer - An agent that is sensitive to light is either injected, taken orally, or rubbed on the spot to be treated.
• Accumulation In Target Cells -The drug concentrates more in abnormal cells (i.e., cancerous cells, precancerous cells, or diseased tissues) than in normal cells.
• Activation with light – The area is then illuminated with special wavelength of light (laser, LED, or other source) after a waiting period (to allow drug uptake).
• Generation of Reactive Oxygen – An activated drug will react with oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which destroys and damages targeted cells.

Uses of Photodynamic Therapy

• Cancer therapy (skin cancers, esophagus cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, head and neck cancers).
• Dermatology- precancerous lesions on the skin (actinic keratosis), acne, psoriasis.
• Ophthalmology -Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• Dentistry -Periodontal infections.
• Antimicrobial applications -Curing a local infection that resists antibiotics.

Advantages

• Generally non-invasive, most often outpatient.
• Very specific to abnormal tissue.
• Reduces the harm to nearby sound cells.
• May be repeated again and again in same region.
• Little systemic side effects as compared to chemotherapy/radiation.

Best hospitals for photodynamic therapy in India

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket

Factors Affecting Photodynamic therapy cost in India

The most crucial determinants of the price of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in India, alongside approximate ranges to provide you with context:

Kind of Healthcare Facility

• Hospital-affiliated centers (particularly large, multispecialty, or university centers) tend to be more expensive because they have a higher overhead of management and a wider range of services.
• By contrast, the latter may entail more direct clinical treatments in private clinics.

Technology and Equipment used

• The price is highly dependent upon the nature of photosensitizers, light sources, and imaging devices to be employed. Highly-developed technology usually puts up the cost of sessions

Nature of the condition and Complexity of the Condition

• Disease-specific variables diseases and their type, stage, localization, and size of the lesion define the number of sessions and their types, and, therefore, influence the costs. The costs may go up significantly in cases of extensive or complex conditions (e.g., intense tumors or multiple locations) due to the need to take multiple sessions or a combination treatment.

Photosensitizer Drugs

• Differences in the type, dose, and source of photosensitizing agents can have a substantial effect on cost including the possible use of proprietary or imported drugs.

Type and Duration of Therapy 

• The cost varies depending on whether the lasers or LED are utilized, and the duration or the number of sessions needed--extended treatments or multiple sessions drive up the expenses.

Reputation and the Location of the hospital

• High-end hospitals in big cities (such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru) usually quote a higher price than mid-tier or regional hospitals.
• PDT providers, such as Apollo Cancer Centres, and Fortis Memorial (Gurgaon), are household names.

Expertise and Ancillary Fees of Doctors

• Specialist charges, anaesthesia, facility charges, imaging, and pathology charges, post-operative, and follow-up also add to the overall cost.

The Number of Sessions needed

• We may require a single session, other conditions may demand on multiple sessions, although some cases require a number of sessions, with extensive or recurrent lesions. The total cost increases as a result of this.

Top doctors for photodynamic therapy in India

• Dr. S Jayalakshmi
• Dr. Tejinder Kataria
• Dr. Anil Kumar Anand
• Dr. Swarupa Mitra

Advanced photodynamic therapy treatment India

This is an organized guide to the new developments and latest variations of Advanced treatments of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).

New and advanced PDT treatments:

Next-Generation Photosensitizers

The conventional photosensitizers (such as porphyrins) show poor tissue penetration and extended post-phototoxic erythema. The advanced versions contain:

• Second-Generation Drugs: chlorins, phthalocyanines, bacteriochlorins and stronger absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region – deeper tissue penetration.
• Third-Generation Drugs – Targeted pharmaceuticals using the photosensitizers bound to antibodies, peptide or nanoparticle to precision treat the tumors.
• Activatable Photosensitizers -Only makes it active in a particular microenvironment (low pH, tumors with hypoxia), thereby minimising side effects.

Nanoparticle-Enhanced PDT

• Photosensitizers are targeted at cancer cells with nanocarriers (liposomes, gold nanoparticles, polymeric micelles).
• Improves selective accumulation, stability, and drug solubility.
• Enables dual therapy (PDT + chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or gene therapy), in one platform.

Technologies with deeper tissue penetration

• Two-Photon PDT PDTs uses femtosecond pulsed lasers in the NIR range to activate drug deeper into the tissues with increased precision.
• X-ray Activated PDT (XPDT) -Takes advantage of X-rays to sensitize special nanoscintillators within tumors to an otherwise inaccessible depth, in order to use PDT with deep-seated tumors.
• Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT) - Uses ultrasound rather than light as a source of activating sensitizers, by using ultrasound, the limits on penetration of light are overcome.

Combination Therapies

• PDT / Immunotherapy - in combination with the release of tumor antigens by PDT, immunotherapy promotes the immune response through immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• PDT + Photothermal Therapy (PTT) -The result is enhanced tumor thermolysis by combining heat with the generation of ROS (reactive oxygen species).
• Targeted Chemotherapy + PD+T - Co delivery of PS and chemotherapy drugs by nanocarriers to achieve the synergistic effect.

Image-Guided/Precision PDT

• Fluorescence-Guided PDT (FG-PDT) -There is the natural fluorescence of photo-sensitizers and it guides the treatment of the tumor in real-time.
• MI/CT/PETsynergized PDT - PDT photosensitizers are co-developed with imaging agents that report the presence and distribution of the drugs and provide insight into the response to treatment.
• Tumor ablation with PDT based on intraoperative application, these are exactly applied during the surgery and intended to destroy residual microscopic cancer cells, especially in the brain, lung, and head & neck cancer cases.

Clinical Applications/Advanced

• Neuro-Oncology being developed as a treatment modality in malignant researches. Researchers have been found to possess low oxygen levels in the tumor regions in the brain but externally photosensitized with the tumor receiving light internally as a therapeutic modality to pinpoint the tumor and utilize this mode as a necrotic effect on the tumor.
• Urology: Untouched bladder, prostate and kidney cancers and PDT using fiber-optic catheters.
• Ophthalmology - Second-generation PDT in wet age related macular degeneration with a lower recurrence.
• Dermatology: PDT and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)-assisted PDT to treat acne with minimal pain, acne, actinic keratosis, and resistant skin cancer with minimal pain.

Personalized PDT

• Genomic and molecular profiling aids in choosing the best photo sensitizer in a specific patient.
• PDT with A-guided is under development to optimize drug dose, light dose and treatment intervals.

Factors Affecting Affordable photodynamic therapy in India

Factors Influencing Affordable Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in India- not only considering the cost driving factors but what can help patients access the therapy at a reduced cost without sacrificing quality:

• Type of Hospital or Treatment Center
• Photosensitizer Availability and Source
• Light Delivery Equipment
• Number of Sessions Required
• Location of Hospital
• Doctor’s Expertise & Treatment Protocols
• Patient’s Medical Condition

Photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment India

Photodynamic therapy is a less invasive form of cancer treatment which involves:

• Photosensitizer drug: a light sensitive drug.
• A certain light wavelength (laser or LED).
• Oxygen in blood.

When the drug gets light activated, it forms reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are selective in killing the cancer cells in the body but leave the surrounding tissues intact.

PDT Treated Cancers

Common Indications:

• Skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis).
• Cancer of the esophagus (at an early stage or recurring).
• Non-small cell lung cancer (early or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer).
• Cancer of the bladder (surface tumors).
• Oral, pharyngeal lesions.

Advanced / Investigational Indication

• Brain cancer (Glioblastoma multiforme) - intra operative PDT.
• Bile duct and pancreatic cancers- through delivery of light by endoscope.
• Prostate cancer - focal PDT with interstitial optical fibers
• NSOMD as an adjuvent treatment of breast cancer in superficial recurrences.

PDT Procedure used and Cancer

• The Administration of Drug- Photosensitizer is administered intravenously, orally, or topically (depending on the location of the tumor).
• Drug Uptake – In this mechanism, the uptake happens when cancer cells absorb the drug (few hours to 2 days).
• Light Activation-Fiber-optimic light or laser placed by endoscope, catheter or intraoperative probe into tumor.
• Cell Rupture-The activated drug produces ROS and destroys tumor cells, tumor-blood vessels and induces immune actions.

Advantages of PDT in Cancer Treatment

• Non major surgery.
• Very selective to cancer cells.
• Repeatable- used several times when cancer returns
• Low systemic toxicity as compared to chemotherapy.
• Combination use-will augment radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Photodynamic Therapy in India by GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Photodynamic treatment.
• Expert doctor with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food