PDT is a new treatment that is still evolving. It is currently given only to patients with recurrent tumors who have failed BCG treatment. Newer sensitizing agents have improved its efficacy. In one study, 84% of patients with BCG-resistant papillary tumor had a complete response, and 75% of patients with carcinoma in situ had a complete response at the 3-month follow-up. At a median follow-up of 4 years, 31 of 34 patients who had responded were still tumor-free.
PDT appears to be useful in patients with superficial bladder cancer but has not yet been widely adopted. Larger studies with long-term follow-up of patients are still needed before PDT becomes a mainstream treatment, but the early studies have shown great promise for this type of therapy.