Photodynamic cancer therapy

For more information, contact George Stamatis, 216-368-3635 or gxs18@po.cwru.edu.

PHOTODYNAMIC CANCER THERAPY (running time = 1:53)

SUGGESTED INTRO: MEDICAL RESEARCHERS ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF LIGHT TO TARGET AND KILL CANCERS. THEY SAY PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY POSES LESS RISK TO A PATIENT THAN SURGERY OR CHEMOTHERAPY. MORE IN THIS REPORT:

VIDEO: Lab researcher working with photodynamic materials. Cut to P-C-4 material on mixer.
P-C-4 in front of red light box in lab.

VOICEOVER: MEDICAL RESEARCHERS AT CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY ARE SHINING A NEW LIGHT ON THE TREATMENT OF CANCER. USING A PROCEDURE CALLED PHOTODYNYAMIC THERAPY, DOCTORS ARE TARGETING TUMORS WITH A PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUG THAT WHEN EXPOSED TO LIGHT, ACTIVATES A CANCER-KILLING AGENT. NANCY OLEINICK IS LEADING RESEARCH TO IMPROVE PHOTODYNAMIC DRUGS.

SOT & SUGGESTED SUPER:
Nancy Oleinick, Ph.D., CWRU Professor of Radiology

OUTCUE: "... eradication of the tumor." (:39)

VIDEO:Cut-away to red light box. Cut to still shot of cancer cells that have absorbed P-C-4. Cut to CU of lab worker's hands (wearing gloves) handling viles. Cut to CU of bottle containing P-C-4 mixed with cancer cells (blue liquid).

VOICEOVER: THE ONLY PHOTODYNAMIC DRUG CURRENTLY APPROVED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR CLINICAL USE IS PHOTOFRIN; BUT PHOTOFRIN, MAINLY USED FOR CANCERS OF THE ESOPHAGUS, CANNOT BE CONTROLLED AS WELL AS A NEW DRUG BEING DEVELOPED AT CASE WESTERN RESERVE, CALLED P-C-4.

VIDEO: Interview with Nancy Oleinick

OUTCUE: "... when the two come together." (:12)

VIDEO: Red light box in lab goes on. Cut to red light shining through fingers (black background). Cut to zoom-in shot of red light box in front of bottle containing P-C-4 liquid. Cut to shot of lab researcher. Black.

VOICEOVER: ANOTHER ADVANTAGE TO P-C-4; IT CAN ABSORB LONGER WAVELENGTH LASER LIGHT WHICH PENETRATES DEEPER INTO TISSUE. P-C-4 IS ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE TO THIS RED LIGHT, ALLOWING DOCTORS TO KILL TUMORS BELOW THE SURFACE OF ORGANS, SPARING OTHERWISE HEALTHY TISSUE.

THIS IS DAVE NAROSNY REPORTING FROM CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND.

-CWRU-