Photodynamic therapy in Kazakhstan

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an effective, minimally invasive method for treating various cancers, including those associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), across multiple specialties like gynecology, urology, and otolaryngology. This work explores the clinical relevance and growing importance of PDT in the treatment of malignant neoplasms. PDT was in both standalone and combination therapy formats, alongside chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and systemic PDT (such as blood photomodification). This article reviews clinical experience in Kazakhstan, with a focus on 890 patients treated with 1508 PDT sessions since 2013. PDT has shown significant efficacy in treating skin cancer, including advanced stages, skin metastases from breast cancer, and cancers of hollow organs and the abdominal cavity. PDT is a promising and highly effective treatment for a range of malignancies. PDT is an important tool in providing not only palliative but also potentially radical treatment for oncological patients.