Intracavitary Photodynamic Therapy as an Adjuvant to Resection of Glioblastoma or Gliosarcoma Using IV Photobac®

Twenty four hours before surgery the patient will receive an intravenous injection of Photobac®. This will make the brain tumor sensitive to light. Lighting up the brain using a low power near infrared laser will kill cells that contain Photobac®. Photobac® crosses the blood brain barrier. Compared to the brain at 24 hours after injection, the tumor holds significantly more Photobac®. This Selective retention by tumors is the reason PDT has proved a valuable weapon against other types of tumors. Once the surgeon has removed the tumor as completely as possible, the brain that bordered the tumor will be illuminated with near infrared light from a low power laser. This will destroy tumor cells hiding deep in the brain. Such cells cause tumor recurrence. The light treatment will add about one hour to the surgery. The Patient will be asleep during this procedure. The patient will receive standard post-surgical care during recovery.