Applications of phototherapies for the management of skin cancer along with their mechanism of action
| No. | Source of light (phototherapy) | Target | Treatment of skin cancer | Mechanism of action | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PUVA | Psoralen and DNA | Skin mastocytosis and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma | Apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and DNA replication inhibition | [119] |
| 2 | UVA1 (340–400 nm) | Chromophores | Atopic dermatitis, localized scleroderma | T-cell apoptosis and tissue remodeling | [120] |
| 3 | PDT | Photosensitizers | Superficial skin cancer | Apoptosis and ROS production | [121] |
| 4 | Ablation [CO2 laser (10,800 nm); erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Er:YAG laser, 3,850 nm)] | Water in and outside the cells | Superficial skin cancer | Evaporation | [122] |
| 5 | Non-ablation (dye laser) | Hemoglobin (Hb) | Telangiectasia, vascular lesions, as well as hemangioma | Photoselective thermolysis | [123] |
| 6 | Extra-corporeal photopheresis | Chromophore | Erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma | T-cells depletion | [124] |