Porfimer sodium, a polyporphyrin derivative, is a photosensitizer introduced for the
treatment of refractory lung, bladder, and esophageal cancers. Porfimer sodium treatment
with photodynamic therapy inhibits or stops recurrence of superficial bladder cancer tumors.
In patients with inoperable early stage lung cancer, use of porfimer sodium prior to argon dye
laser treatment produced complete response in >6O% of carcinomas. It also has potential for
the treatment of cervical dysplasia, atherosclerosis, and psoriasis.
