Abstract

Response to neoadjuvant treatment (radiochemotherapy: RCT; radiochemotherapy with hyperthermia: HRCT) can not be monitored precisely by present clinical diagnostic tools It was observed previously that autofluorescence spectra of tumors recorded ex vivo or in vivo exhibit strong porphyrin fluorescence bands [1] Following a prospective, randomized protocol to compare hyperthermic radiochemotherapy with radiochemotherapy alone for treating regionally advanced rectal cancer, we have recorded time-gated autofluorescence spectra and evaluated changes in PpIX fluorescence intensity of primary tumors and surrounding mucosa Our aim is to demonstrate that laser-induced fluorescence intensity of endogenous porphyrins can be used as marker for biological tumor response

© 2000 IEEE