Abstract
Background and Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the application of an Infrared Pulsed Laser Device (IPLD) photo‐induced significant cytomorphologic changes during the monitoring of advanced cancer patients participating in a phase I clinical trial.
Materials and Methods
Patients were irradiated with an IPLD (904 nm pulsed at 3 MHz) under a one‐dose, one‐schedule, and one‐procedure design. Total daily dose consisted of a Radiant Exposure of 4.5 × 10^5^ J/m^2^. Thirty‐one tissue samples from eleven patients with progressive solid neoplastic diseases (TNM IV, UICC) were obtained at three intervals: Time 0 (15–90 days pre‐treatment, n = 11); Time I (2–5 months post‐treatment; n = 11); Time II (6–12 months post‐treatment, n = 09). Three blinded pathologists evaluated samples; scores were determined by consensus. Data were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon matched‐pairs signed‐rank test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The level of statistical significance was α = 0.05.
Results
Increased apoptosis (Time I, P < 0.003; Time II, P < 0.007), necrosis (Time I, NS; Time II, P < 0.01), cytoplasmic vacuoles (Time I, P < 0.03; Time II, P < 0.02), and nuclear vacuoles (Time I, NS; Time II, P < 0.01), reduced cell size (Time I, P < 0.007; Time II, P < 0.01) and intercellular adhesion (Time I, P < 0.01; Time II, P < 0.02) were present in neoplastic cells after IPLD treatment. No apparent changes were noted in non‐neoplastic cells. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between apoptosis, necrosis, nuclear vacuoles, cytoplasmatic vacuoles, intercellular adhesion, and cell size was positive and highly significant (P < 0.006).
Conclusions
Although further research is necessary, our preliminary results support the novel possibility that the IPLD photo‐induces chaotic dynamics that modulate complex physiologically reparative bioeffects. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:18–25, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.