Europe releases first clinical guide for photobiomodulation in cancer care, standardizing light therapy for mucositis, skin damage, and treatment side effects.
The effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) have been reported to improve health conditions when there is dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics. These include brain injury, diabetes, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, and skin injury. PBM improves glymphatic drainage, regulates the gut microbiome, boosts myokine production, and modulates the immune system. Photobiomodulation therapy can enhance the plasticity and modify the immune microenvironment of bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal cells (MSCs), transforming them into an extraordinary anti-inflammatory and osteogenic tool that extends to conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, immunological disorders, and various forms of osteopenia. The functional decline of bone marrow-derived MSCs in aging is supported by compromised mitochondrial metabolism due to telomere shortening.
Cancer is a chronic disease responsible for millions of deaths annually. Its multifaceted profile, with diverse types and anatomical locations, complicates treatment, which is often limited to surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments are frequently associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and recurrence, underscoring the urgent need for new, less invasive therapies. Recent studies suggest that blue light (BL; 450–470 nm) may offer antitumor and pro-apoptotic effects, making it a promising alternative for cancer treatment. However, its cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This qualitative systematic review, conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, analyzed 37 in vitro and in vivo studies published between 2002 and 2024, retrieved from databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and LILACS, focusing on the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with blue light (450–470 nm) in preclinical cancer models. BL demonstrated antitumor potential by reducing cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing apoptosis. In animal models, BL also inhibited tumor growth and metastasis and improved survival. Despite these encouraging results, considerable methodological heterogeneity and insufficient information on dosimetric parameters compromise the reproducibility and comparability of results across studies. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of BL in oncology and underscore the need for standardized protocols for its clinical application.
In summary, photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy can alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments, such as acute oral mucositis, radiation dermatitis, lymphedema, neuropathic pain, and radiation enteropathy, significantly improving the quality of life of cancer patients. Furthermore, a growing body of preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that photobiomodulation (PBM) not only mitigates adverse effects but can also inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, suggesting its potential as a complementary tool in tumor treatment.
However, the current variability in treatment parameters and dosages remains a crucial challenge, as inconsistent results have been observed across different studies. This variability underscores the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM). Future research should focus on several key areas. First, expanding clinical trials with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods is essential to confirm the efficacy and safety of PBM therapy in diverse patient populations. Second, rigorous preclinical studies are needed to elucidate the cellular and molecular pathways affected by PBM, which could help identify the most effective treatment protocols. Third, efforts to standardize PBM parameters—including wavelength, dose, and treatment duration—are crucial to minimizing outcome variability and ensuring reproducibility across different clinical settings.
Overall, while PBM therapy represents a promising complementary approach to cancer treatment, its successful integration into conventional treatment regimens will depend on protocol standardization and a deeper mechanistic understanding of its effects.
My question , after 26 years of dealing with a nonhealing area on my leg just above the ankle that received radiation due to perifiphial T-Cell Lymphoma, 3 tumors close together right over the bone, can this heal this? I have recently had some success using DMSO. The non healing area is now smaller and seems to now be healed providing nothing knocks the scab off so bleeding begins again. Still an area around 6" seems hard as a rock, circulation is not good so the right ankle, foot do swell. Can this therapy help with the circulation problem? Can it stop the cycle of healing, bleeding?
My oncologist decided to use radiation to prevent the cancer getting into the bone plus it was bleeding, oozing so much it was attracting flies!
Next would insurance cover this treatment or claim it is just experimental like Stem cells for knees instead of replacement surgery? I had stemm cells for both knees over 6 years ago. I was bone on bone, could barely walk and drs said surgery was the only thing to do. Expensive, long down time! I chose stem cells as my eye doctor had it done 4 years ago and he loved his new knees, good enough for me. I walked in with my cane, walked out just carrying it I felt so much better. Of course insurance said ti was experimental even though my doctor had been doing this over 15 years. It cost me a total of $4680.00 for the stem cells and 6 months later PRP. A neighbor who did replacement same time after just 2 years is confined to 1 floor of her house, cannot go downstairs to do her washing, go anywhere, depends on her son to do grocery shopping, get the mail for her. I still drive my Asrto van, go places, am able to do everything I ever did. I believe in stem cells! I would like to try this!
Dear Doria, Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, using red/near-infrared (600–1100 nm) or blue (400–470 nm) light, accelerates wound healing by stimulating cellular mitochondria and increasing blood flow. This noninvasive, painless therapy reduces inflammation, increases collagen production, and kills bacteria, making it effective for chronic and acute wounds.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Key Mechanisms and Benefits
Mitochondrial Stimulation: PBM promotes ATP production, enhancing cellular energy and function for faster repair.
Wavelength Specificity: Red and near-infrared light penetrate deep to promote collagen synthesis and tissue repair, while blue light acts superficially to manage infections and stimulate healing.
Reduced Inflammation: PBM lowers oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators, preventing further tissue damage.
Key Indications: Effective for diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and post-surgical scars.
Application Protocols
Dosing: Effective therapeutic doses range from 0.1 to 10
Wavelengths: Studies use blue (400–470 nm) for surface-level healing and red/NIR (600–1000 nm) for deeper tissue stimulation.
Timing: Research suggests early application, such as 48 hours before surgical intervention and at the time of suture removal, can enhance recovery.
PBM therapy is gaining recognition as a standard-of-care, particularly in cases where healing is stalled, thanks to its ability to accelerate healing times and reduce patient pain.
Huh? Maybe there is something to the old joke - My bald head is a solar panel for my brain. Seems like another layer of evidence the good old Sun, yet avoiding sunburns potentially feeds our bodies, health. Being as this has been vilified for so long and its only been in recent years old dogma has been allowed to be challenged somewhat, it may well be likely there is or are deeper layers of how the Sun understood properly is a building block for a long, productive life.
Summer Sun never fails to push the ache of winter out of the bones and joints. So many times it makes the world seem right no matter what may be going on.
Sunshine after a gray, cloudy day lifts the spirit! It makes me want to get up and going instead of wrapping up , staying put. And of course, old broken bones, arthritis aches respond to the warmth of the sun. At 85, I welcome it's warmth!
The effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) have been reported to improve health conditions when there is dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics. These include brain injury, diabetes, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, and skin injury. PBM improves glymphatic drainage, regulates the gut microbiome, boosts myokine production, and modulates the immune system. Photobiomodulation therapy can enhance the plasticity and modify the immune microenvironment of bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal cells (MSCs), transforming them into an extraordinary anti-inflammatory and osteogenic tool that extends to conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, immunological disorders, and various forms of osteopenia. The functional decline of bone marrow-derived MSCs in aging is supported by compromised mitochondrial metabolism due to telomere shortening.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20417314221110192 (2022)---
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/php.13963 (2024).--https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13195-024-01484-x (2024).--https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-024-01231-y (2024).--
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https://saunazeit.com/en/what-are-heat-shock-proteins-and-why-sauna-can-help-with-it/ (2023).----
https://www.steamandsaunaexperts.com/blog/what-are-heat-shock-proteins-learn-the-secret-way-sauna-therapy-can-help-you-improve-your-health (2021).----
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpregu.00076.2022 (2022).---
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025619623000083 (2023).---
https://wjarr.com/sites/default/files/WJARR-2022-1414.pdf (2023).---
http://bioclima.ro/Balneo552.pdf (2023).---
https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/3965 (2023).---
https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/49430 (2024).--
https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/49802 (2024).--
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1355814524000452 (2024).--
Cancer is a chronic disease responsible for millions of deaths annually. Its multifaceted profile, with diverse types and anatomical locations, complicates treatment, which is often limited to surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments are frequently associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and recurrence, underscoring the urgent need for new, less invasive therapies. Recent studies suggest that blue light (BL; 450–470 nm) may offer antitumor and pro-apoptotic effects, making it a promising alternative for cancer treatment. However, its cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This qualitative systematic review, conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, analyzed 37 in vitro and in vivo studies published between 2002 and 2024, retrieved from databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and LILACS, focusing on the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with blue light (450–470 nm) in preclinical cancer models. BL demonstrated antitumor potential by reducing cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing apoptosis. In animal models, BL also inhibited tumor growth and metastasis and improved survival. Despite these encouraging results, considerable methodological heterogeneity and insufficient information on dosimetric parameters compromise the reproducibility and comparability of results across studies. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of BL in oncology and underscore the need for standardized protocols for its clinical application.
In summary, photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy can alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments, such as acute oral mucositis, radiation dermatitis, lymphedema, neuropathic pain, and radiation enteropathy, significantly improving the quality of life of cancer patients. Furthermore, a growing body of preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that photobiomodulation (PBM) not only mitigates adverse effects but can also inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, suggesting its potential as a complementary tool in tumor treatment.
However, the current variability in treatment parameters and dosages remains a crucial challenge, as inconsistent results have been observed across different studies. This variability underscores the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM). Future research should focus on several key areas. First, expanding clinical trials with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods is essential to confirm the efficacy and safety of PBM therapy in diverse patient populations. Second, rigorous preclinical studies are needed to elucidate the cellular and molecular pathways affected by PBM, which could help identify the most effective treatment protocols. Third, efforts to standardize PBM parameters—including wavelength, dose, and treatment duration—are crucial to minimizing outcome variability and ensuring reproducibility across different clinical settings.
Overall, while PBM therapy represents a promising complementary approach to cancer treatment, its successful integration into conventional treatment regimens will depend on protocol standardization and a deeper mechanistic understanding of its effects.
ahttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/php.70025 (2025)
-- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/php.14107 (2025)
My question , after 26 years of dealing with a nonhealing area on my leg just above the ankle that received radiation due to perifiphial T-Cell Lymphoma, 3 tumors close together right over the bone, can this heal this? I have recently had some success using DMSO. The non healing area is now smaller and seems to now be healed providing nothing knocks the scab off so bleeding begins again. Still an area around 6" seems hard as a rock, circulation is not good so the right ankle, foot do swell. Can this therapy help with the circulation problem? Can it stop the cycle of healing, bleeding?
My oncologist decided to use radiation to prevent the cancer getting into the bone plus it was bleeding, oozing so much it was attracting flies!
Next would insurance cover this treatment or claim it is just experimental like Stem cells for knees instead of replacement surgery? I had stemm cells for both knees over 6 years ago. I was bone on bone, could barely walk and drs said surgery was the only thing to do. Expensive, long down time! I chose stem cells as my eye doctor had it done 4 years ago and he loved his new knees, good enough for me. I walked in with my cane, walked out just carrying it I felt so much better. Of course insurance said ti was experimental even though my doctor had been doing this over 15 years. It cost me a total of $4680.00 for the stem cells and 6 months later PRP. A neighbor who did replacement same time after just 2 years is confined to 1 floor of her house, cannot go downstairs to do her washing, go anywhere, depends on her son to do grocery shopping, get the mail for her. I still drive my Asrto van, go places, am able to do everything I ever did. I believe in stem cells! I would like to try this!
Dear Doria, Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, using red/near-infrared (600–1100 nm) or blue (400–470 nm) light, accelerates wound healing by stimulating cellular mitochondria and increasing blood flow. This noninvasive, painless therapy reduces inflammation, increases collagen production, and kills bacteria, making it effective for chronic and acute wounds.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Key Mechanisms and Benefits
Mitochondrial Stimulation: PBM promotes ATP production, enhancing cellular energy and function for faster repair.
Wavelength Specificity: Red and near-infrared light penetrate deep to promote collagen synthesis and tissue repair, while blue light acts superficially to manage infections and stimulate healing.
Reduced Inflammation: PBM lowers oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators, preventing further tissue damage.
Key Indications: Effective for diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and post-surgical scars.
Application Protocols
Dosing: Effective therapeutic doses range from 0.1 to 10
Wavelengths: Studies use blue (400–470 nm) for surface-level healing and red/NIR (600–1000 nm) for deeper tissue stimulation.
Timing: Research suggests early application, such as 48 hours before surgical intervention and at the time of suture removal, can enhance recovery.
PBM therapy is gaining recognition as a standard-of-care, particularly in cases where healing is stalled, thanks to its ability to accelerate healing times and reduce patient pain.
https://www.jkslms.or.kr/journal/view.html?uid=372&vmd=Full& ———
https://drmuller.com/blog/red-light/red-light-therapy-wound-healing/#:~:text=Scientific%20studies%20confirm%20that%20specific,et%20al.%2C%202021).———
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43630-025-00725-8
Huh? Maybe there is something to the old joke - My bald head is a solar panel for my brain. Seems like another layer of evidence the good old Sun, yet avoiding sunburns potentially feeds our bodies, health. Being as this has been vilified for so long and its only been in recent years old dogma has been allowed to be challenged somewhat, it may well be likely there is or are deeper layers of how the Sun understood properly is a building block for a long, productive life.
Summer Sun never fails to push the ache of winter out of the bones and joints. So many times it makes the world seem right no matter what may be going on.
Sunshine after a gray, cloudy day lifts the spirit! It makes me want to get up and going instead of wrapping up , staying put. And of course, old broken bones, arthritis aches respond to the warmth of the sun. At 85, I welcome it's warmth!
In the 1970s we used Red light therapy for Wound care .