Lesion oxygenation associates with clinical outcomes in premalignant and early stage head and neck tumors treated on a phase 1 trial of photodynamic therapy

•In preclinical models, tumor oxygenation predicts for long-term outcomes to photodynamic therapy (PDT).•Lesion oxygenation was measured in patients on a Phase 1 trial of PDT for superficial head and neck lesions.•Higher pre-PDT lesion oxygenation associated with positive outcomes in lesions of the tongue and floor of mouth and lesions that were intact at the time of PDT.•Physiologic monitoring may enable personalization of PDT by informing choice of light delivery parameters.