Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds considerable potential in inoperable central tracheobronchial malignant tumours. However, evidence is scarce from Chinese populations. This preliminary study was conducted to monitor the therapeutic efficacy and assess the safety of PDT for central tracheobronchial malignant tumours in a Chinese population. Methods: This study involved nine patients with central tracheobronchial malignant tumours who underwent PDT. The primary endpoints of the study were clinical efficacy and safety, while secondary endpoints included the one-year overall survival (OS), two-year OS, and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: Nine patients with a follow-up period exceeding two years, six patients exhibited sustained clinical stability for one year. After PDT, there was a significant improvement in both the clinical symptoms and the quality of life of the patients (t = 5.57, P< 0.0001). The one-year OS reached 88.9%, while the two-year OS was 77.8%. Among the included patients, two patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma had not yet reached the average RFS, with a mean RFS of 15.9±10.5 months (ranging from 2.1 to 35.0 months). Adverse effects were limited, with two patients experiencing grade 1 photosensitivity reactions, one patient developing localized bronchial scarring. Importantly, no serious treatment-related complications were observed. Discussion: This study demonstrates that PDT is associated with a favorable safety profile and significant therapeutic benefits, particularly when combined with multimodal comprehensive treatment strategies. While the small sample size and single-center design limit the generalizability of our findings, the data presented here provide important insights into the application of PDT for central airway malignancies in China. Future research should aim to include a larger, more diverse patient population to further validate the efficacy of PDT and explore its potential as a new treatment option for patients. Conclusions: This preliminary study establishes that PDT represents a viable and effective approach for the management of central tracheobronchial malignant tumours. PDT yields favourable survival outcomes while being associated with mild and well-tolerated complications. Overall, this study highlights the significant clinical value of PDT.
Gong et al. (2026) studied this question.