光ひかり免疫めんえき療法りょうほう 同様どうよう名めいで自由じゆう診療しんりょうクリニックなどで治療ちりょう 注意ちゅうい喚起かんき

About the fact that treatments with names similar to photoimmunotherapy, which was first approved in the world in Japan five years ago as a cancer treatment, are being offered at private clinics as non-insured medical services, a professional academic society is warning that these are considered to be different from the treatment approved by the government.

Photoimmunotherapy is a treatment method in which a cancer drug combined with a light-reactive chemical is administered to the patient, and the drug is activated by exposing it to laser light to attack cancer cells. Five years ago, a drug for the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer became the first in the world to be approved in Japan.

The Japan Society for Head and Neck Surgery has certified approximately 120 locations nationwide, including university hospitals, as authorized facilities. However, on the 12th, it released a statement warning that treatments with similar names are being offered at clinics providing non-insured private medical services.

In this context, the society is not involved at all in treatments outside of certified facilities, and strongly recommends that those who wish to receive treatment visit a certified facility.

According to academic societies and other sources, treatments provided at clinics offering private medical care differ from those approved by the government, and their effectiveness and safety are considered unestablished.

Dr. Takahiro Asakage, President of the Japan Society for Head and Neck Surgery, said, If you search for photoimmunotherapy and end up going to a medical institution not affiliated with our society, it may take longer to receive the proper treatment, so please be careful.