5th Euro-PDT Meeting
The European Society
for Photodynamic Therapy annual congress
Sirmione , Italy , 4-5 March 2005
The 5 th Congress of the European Society for Photodynamic
Therapy (EURO-PDT) was successfully concluded in Sirmione in Italy.
More than 280 participants from European and American countries attended
the congress, which was perfectly organized by the Congress President
Prof. Piergiacomo Calzavara-Pinton, chief of the Department of Dermatology
in Brescia.
It has been 5 years since the European Society for
Photodynamic Therapy was founded by the President of the society, Prof.
Lasse R. Braathen from Bern in Switzerland, the Vice-President Prof.
Rolf-Markus Szeimies from Regensburg in Germany, the treasurer Dr. Alexis
Sidoroff from Innsbruck in Austria and the secretary Dr. Colin A. Morton
form Falkirk in Scotland.
Since the first EURO-PDT congress in 2001, which took
place in Bern in Switzerland the number of participants has continuously
grown.
The aims of the annual congress of the EURO PDT are
to improve the knowledge of photochemistry and photobiology of photodynamic
reactions, to present the current evidence-base for topical PDT applications
in dermatology, to emphasize recent advances in the field of topical
PDT and to inform of recently developed drugs and light sources.
Pre Congress PDT Course
On march 3, a Pre-Congress PDT Training workshop with
51 participants from several European countries took place at the Medical
School of the University of Brescia. In this course doctors and medical
personnel from all over Europe were able to hear on the basic principles
of photodynamic therapy, the indications for PDT in dermatology and
to learn how to treat patients step by step with topical PDT using methyl-aminolevulinate
(MAL, Metvix ®). Several patients with actinic keratoses or basal
cell carcinoma were treated to demonstrate all procedures beginning
with lesion preparation, Metvix ® application up to illumination
of the lesions.
Despite heavy snow fall – very uncommon for this time of the
year – this course was a great success.
Day One
On march 4, the congress began at the Congress Center
in Sirmione with a welcome address by the Congress President Prof. Piergiacomo
Calzavara-Pinton and the President of the EURO-PDT society Prof. Lasse
R. Braathen. The topics of the morning lectures were the basic mechanisms
of PDT, photochemistry and photobiology. The first talk was given by
one of the “fathers” of PDT, Prof. Roy Pottier from Canada,
who gave a comprehensive overview on the photochemistry of ALA-PDT.
Also the other talks were given by the most experienced scientists in
the field of physics, biology and chemistry.
The topics of the afternoon sessions were the clinical
indications for MAL/ALA – PDT. The first part of this session
was focused on the treatment of precancerous lesions and non-melanoma
skin cancer. Several controlled clinical trials contribute to the establishment
of PDT as an evidence based medicine. Also helpful practical tips were
given from private practice.
The second part of the afternoon sessions was dedicated
to other and new indications for PDT, such as HPV-induced skin lesions,
inflammatory skin diseases and lymphoma. Another interesting topic covered
the treatment of skin disorders in immunosuppressed and organ transplant
patients. The treatment of such patients will gain more and more importance
in the future, since their number is continuously increasing.
In the evening, a Congress Gala Dinner was held for
all Congress participants at the beautiful Villa La Tassinara at Rivoltella
di Desenzano offering a superb Italian menu, life music and dance.
Day two (March 5)
The morning of the second day was focused on the side
effects and the safety of PDT as well as on very recent studies on new
indications for PDT. Skin rejuvenation with PDT was a hot topic and
dermatologists from different countries contributed their experience
with topical PDT to improve the signs of skin aging. In addition, several
interesting studies on the treatment of acne, rosacea or other sebaceous
gland disorders were presented. Dr. M. Gold reported on his experience
with ALA-PDT in the United States, in particular on the treatment of
sebaceous gland disorders (e.g. acne, sebaceous gland hyperplasia and
hidradenitis suppurativa) and on photorejuvenation. Prof. Adrian Tanew
from Austria showed the results of the most recently performed controlled
clinical trials on topical ALA-PDT of psoriasis, which could not confirm
the positive results of former uncontrolled studies.
In the second part of the morning sessions breaking
news in PDT were addressed. Phase IV studies with Metvix ® PDT in
Europe and ongoing formal clinical trials with Metvix ® were presented.
Dr. G. Roncucci from Florence in Italy showed his interesting data on
antibacterial PDT with a new phthalocyanine dye and Prof. Jori from
Padua in Italy reported on photothermal therapy as a new approach in
the treatment of skin tumours. The session was finished by a talk from
the President of the EURO-PDT society, Prof. Lasse R. Braathen who gave
an excellent outlook on the place of PDT in clinical Dermatology.
At the end of the congress, Prof. PG Calzavara-Pinton
and Prof. L. Braathen presented the best poster and oral presentation
award. The poster price was awarded to T Smits, C Robles, PEJ van Erp,
PCM van de Kerkhof and MJP Gerritsen from The Netherlands for their
interesting poster on the “Correlation between PPIX and fluorescence
diagnosis in psoriasis and actinic keratoses using a digital fluorescence
imaging system”. Dr. J. Funk from Norway won the best oral presentation
award for this appealing talk on “PDT in private practice”,
where he had given very helpful and personal practical tips for the
management and organisation of this innovative therapy in private practice.
During the whole congress 29 posters from Italy, Germany,
The Netherlands, Hungary, Sweden, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Norway,
UK, Ireland, Slowenia, Poland and the USA were displayed at the Congress
Center.
The choice of Sirmione at the beautiful Lago di Garda
as a congress site for the 5 th EURO PDT Meeting 2005 was very successful
and the delegates could enjoy not only the scientific content of the
congress itself, but also the beautiful surroundings and the historical
site Sirmione.
Dr. Sigrid Karrer
Regensburg in Germany
Very uncommon snow fall in March. Medical School of the University
of Brescia during the Pre-Congress PDT Training Workshop.
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The historical Castle of Sirmione at the Lago di Garda
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Prof. PG Calzavara-Pinton and Prof. R.-M. Szeimies chair the session
on clinical indications of MAL/ALA PDT
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The Board of the EURO-PDT in front
of the congress centre in Sirmione, from left: Congress President Prof.
PG Calzavara-Pinton, Prof. R.M. Szeimies (Vice-President of the Euro
PDT Society), Dr. A. Sidoroff (treasurer of the EURO PDT society), Prof.
L. R. Braathen (president of the Euro PDT Society) and Dr. C. A. Morton
(secretary of the Euro PDT Society).
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