Resumen
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) represents a potential novel treatment modality for a range of cancer types, including head and neck cancers. NIR-PIT is based on the conjugation of photoactivating chemicals to cancer cell-specific antibodies. Antibody-photoabsorber-conjugate causes killing of cancer cells when activated by near-infrared light. NIR-PIT is considered to have particularly promising applications in head and neck cancers and these tumors are typically more easily accessed for illumination. Two patients with oropharyngeal lesions treated with NIR-PIT at our institution had good response with no serious adverse events and no functional disorders.