Patent ID: 6899723

Claim:
A method for administering a photodynamic therapy to destroy or impair target cells expressing a VEGF receptor in a mammalian subject, comprising the steps of: (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a targeted photosensitizer compound having a characteristic light absorption waveband, wherein: the targeted photosensitizer compound selectively binds with the target cells, but does not bind with non-target cells, and the photosensitizer compound is targeted to a VEGF receptor; (b) transcutaneously irradiating at least a portion of the mammalian subject in which the target cells to which the targeted photosensitizer compound has bound are disposed, with light having a waveband corresponding at least in part to the characteristic light absorption waveband of the targeted photosensitizer compound, wherein: the intensity of the light used for the step of irradiating and the duration of irradiation are selected such that the target cells are destroyed and the non-target tissue through which the light passes remains undamaged.