Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of esophagus cancer: a systematic review

Introduction: Photodynamic Therapy has emerged as a treatment option for cancer, especially in the early stages. The therapy is based on the activation of a photosensitive agent through light radiation, forming reactive oxygen molecules that will react with the tumor cells, causing their death. Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review study on photodynamic therapy in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Methods: This is a bibliographic review based on specialized literature through consultation with selected scientific articles by searching the Scielo and PubMed database, in addition to Didactic Books. Result: It was found that the main advantages of photodynamic therapy are its high specificity to tumor tissue, generating less side effects and making it extremely beneficial for patients with esophageal cancer diagnosed early, providing high rates of cure. Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy proved to be an effective therapy to improve the quality of life of patients with the disease in advanced stages, acting as a palliative method.