PDT Research The mission of the Donald L. Perry Foundation is to fund new and innovative research programs, which offer treatment options for cancer patients. Since 2004, the foundation has been funding some very exciting research being conducted at Presbyterian Medical Center at the University of Pennsylvania, involving Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) or “light therapy” techniques. The focus has been on using this therapy to treat late stage lung cancer patients for whom few, if any, viable treatment options exist. Early clinical trials have resulted in the average survival rates of these patients rising from 6 - 9 months to 22 months.
The therapy involves injecting the patient with a non-toxic agent called Photofrin prior to surgery, which causes the cancer cells to become sensitive to light. A laser , purchased by the Donald Perry Foundation is then used on these cells killing the cancer, while limiting the damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Surgery alone would not provide these dramatic results since microscopic tumor cells would still remain after surgery. Over the past year, researchers have broadened the scope of this research to include the use of rare earth phosphors, which are non-toxic minerals that can be enhanced to absorb light at varying wavelengths. They are used in combination with PDT therapy as a potential treatment for other difficult to reach cancers such as head, neck, spine and abdominal cancers. This next phase of research is in the early stages and Presbyterian’s researchers are working in collaboration with researchers at Princeton University, Rutgers University, Roswell Park Cancer Center, Ohio State University and a PDT treatment center in Taiwan.
Penn Mesothelioma & Pleural Diseases Program is a multidisciplinary center at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center,dedicated to providing the best treatments for patients with mesothelioma and other pleural diseases. Dr. Joseph Friedberg is part of this team of experts, treating patients from around the world.
Cancer Researcher Joseph S. Friedberg, MD
Dr. Joseph S. Friedberg is currently the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Presbyterian Medical Center at The University of Pennsylvania. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Medical School. His surgical internship and residency were completed at Massachusetts General Hospital and his fellowship in cardio-thoracic surgery was completed at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Friedberg is a member of several professional and scientific societies including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association of Thoracic Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Friedberg has conducted numerous lectures on topics such as advanced surgical techniques for lung cancer, research in thoracic surgery and photodynamic treatment. Dr. Friedberg has also been published in many professional medical journals and has had several papers accepted for presentation at noted medical conferences. He has been voted by his peers as one of Philadelphia’s “top doctors” .
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