Spatial distribution of liposome encapsulated tin etiopurpurin dichloride (SnET2) in the canine prostate: Implications for computer simulation of photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment that can be employed in many human diseases including prostate cancer. PDT for prostate cancer depends on the sequestration of a photosensitizing drug within the glandular tissue. The photosensitizer is subsequently activated by light (usually from a laser) and the active drug destroys tissue. Since prostate cancer is a multifocal disease, PDT must ablate the glandular prostate completely. This will depend on the precise placement of light sources in the prostate and delivery of a therapeutic light dose to the entire gland. Also, sources of light and their spatial distribution must be tailored to each individual patient. The uniform, therapeutic light distribution can be achieved by interstitial light irradiation. In this case, the light is delivered by diffusers placed within the substance of the prostate parallel to the urethra at a distance optimized to deliver adequate levels of light and to create the desired photodynamic effect. To help achieve the uniform light distribution throughout the prostate we have developed a computer program that can determine treatment effects. The program predicts the best set of parameters and the position of light diffusers in space, and displays them in graphical or in numerical form assuming a fixed attenuation coefficient. The two parameters of greatest importance in the computer simulation are attenuation coefficient and critical fluence. Both depend on the concentration of active drug within the prostate gland. It is necessary to know the nature of the spatial distribution of photosensitizer within the prostate to execute computer modeling of PDT with high precision. We found that the concentration of SnET2 is heterogeneous in nature, and is higher in the proximity of the glandular capsule. It is clear therefore that any future attempts of computerized modeling of this procedure must take into consideration the uneven sequestration of photosensitizer and the consequential asymmetrical necrosis of the prostate.