Photodynamic Therapy for Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Situ

Summary

This pilot study will evaluate the effectiveness of using photodynamic therapy for treatment of cutaneous squamous cell in situ (SCCis). Our hypothesis is that PDT will be effective for treating SCCis. This study will also secondarily evaluate the tolerability of using photodynamic therapy for treatment of SCCis. Investigators plan to enroll 40 subjects with biopsy proven SCCis. Exclusion criteria include lesion in high-risk site (head, neck, hands, feet), previous severe adverse reaction to topical 20% aminolevulinic acid (Kerastick), previous severe adverse reaction to blue light (BLU-U), allergy to Tegaderm, primary or secondary immunosuppression, history of \> 6 skin cancers in the past year, photosensitizing condition such as lupus, or sensitivity to porphyrins. Age, gender, size, and location of the SCCis will be recorded. All subjects will receive surgical treatment of their SCCis. The control group will undergo a surgical excision of the tumor. After the excision, subjects will be asked to fill out a satisfaction survey. The intervention group will receive PDT plus surgical treatment. Photographs of the lesion will be taken at each study visit. Subjects in the intervention group will then undergo the study procedure of application of topical 20% 5-ALA (Levulan Kerastick; DUSA Pharmaceuticals) to the SCCis. At 3-5 weeks after the initial treatment, the subject will repeat the 3-hour ALA incubation and blue light exposure. At 6 months after the last treatment, subjects in the intervention group will return for clinical follow-up and surgical excision of the lesion. After excision, the specimen will be sent for processing by pathology and subjects will be asked to fill out a satisfaction visual analog scale. All slides will be read by a board-certified dermatopathologist. Side effects will also be monitored using the same graded scale described previously. Mild adverse events that have been associated with PDT, including erythema, skin crusting, superficial blistering, hypopigmentation, and hyperpigmentation. These reactions usually occur during or immediately after the PDT treatment.

Timeline

Start

2017-01

Primary completion

2020-01

Completion

2020-01

Publications

• Background Green A. Changing patterns in incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer. Epithelial Cell Biol. 1992 Jan;1(1):47-51.
• Background Glass AG, Hoover RN. The emerging epidemic of melanoma and squamous cell skin cancer. JAMA. 1989 Oct 20;262(15):2097-100.
• Background Brancaleon L, Moseley H. Laser and non-laser light sources for photodynamic therapy. Lasers Med Sci. 2002;17(3):173-86. doi: 10.1007/s101030200027.
• Background Kennedy JC, Pottier RH, Pross DC. Photodynamic therapy with endogenous protoporphyrin IX: basic principles and present clinical experience. J Photochem Photobiol B. 1990 Jun;6(1-2):143-8. doi: 10.1016/1011-1344(90)85083-9.
• Background Tierney E, Barker A, Ahdout J, Hanke CW, Moy RL, Kouba DJ. Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of cutaneous neoplasia, inflammatory disorders, and photoaging. Dermatol Surg. 2009 May;35(5):725-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2009.01117.x. Epub 2009 Mar 20.
• Results Rogers HW, Weinstock MA, Harris AR, Hinckley MR, Feldman SR, Fleischer AB, Coldiron BM. Incidence estimate of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States, 2006. Arch Dermatol. 2010 Mar;146(3):283-7. doi: 10.1001/archdermatol.2010.19.
• Results Miller DL, Weinstock MA. Nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States: incidence. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 May;30(5 Pt 1):774-8. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(08)81509-5.

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