This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.

Pichon Riviere A, Augustovski F, Garcia Marti S, Glujovsky D, Alcaraz A, Lopez A, Bardach A, Ciapponi A, Gonzalez L. Terapia fotodinámica en cáncer de colon. [Photodynamic therapy for colon cancer] Buenos Aires: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS). Informe de Respuesta Rápida N° 276. 2012

To assess the available evidence on the efficacy, safety and coverage policy related aspects on the use of photodynamic therapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

The evidence found is of very poor quality. There is not enough evidence to determine de effectiveness and safety profile or PDT for colon and rectal cancer, or to recommend its use as endoscopic treatment to palliate colon or rectal obstruction, replacing standard treatments such as stent placement or laser therapy. Regarding liver metastasis in these malignancies, there were isolated experiences reported as case series with a low number of patients which show promising results. However, the fact that there are not controlled studies comparing PDT to the standard management of these patients causes PDT use, either for curative or palliative intent in colon and rectal cancer, still to be considered experimental.

Subject indexing assigned by CRD

Colonic Neoplasmss; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents

Spanish

Argentina

An English language summary is available.

Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Viamonte 2146 - 3 Piso, C1056ABH Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina Tel: +54 11 49 66 00 82 Fax:+54 11 49 53 40 58 Email: info@iecs.org.ar

32014000279

30/01/2014