Extracorporeal Photochemotherapy (ECP) Immunotherapy Program

We are internationally recognized for developing an immunologic treatment for advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), or photopheresis, is one of the safest and most effective treatments available for this type of cancer. Our experienced team of physicians and nurses administers photopheresis daily on an outpatient basis. We treat more than 1,000 patients each year.

The procedure was first developed by Yale's Richard Edelson, MD.He and his team are pioneers and leaders in this technique, and continually conduct research to further improve ECP to help treat cancer and other disorders.

During ECP, the patient’s blood is treated with a photosensitizing agent and exposed to specific wavelengths of light to eliminate cancerous cells from the blood and activate the immune system’s T-cells. With immune cells primed to fight off cancer, blood is then returned to the body. ECP is also effective for treating a number of inflammatory diseases.