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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02248298

Efficacy of AFL-assisted PDT With Short Incubation Time in Actinic Keratosis

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is an effective first-line treatment for actinic keratosis (AK). Erbium: yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) ablative fractional laser-assisted MAL-PDT (AFL-PDT) has shown significant benefit for the treatment of AK. However, knowledge on the optimal photosensitizer incubation time for AFL-PDT is limited

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Key information

Age range

18 year–87 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Dong-A University

Busan, Dong Dae Sin-dong, Seo-gu, 602-715, South Korea

About this study

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is widely used in the treatment of superficial skin cancer. It has an excellent cosmetic outcome, and it could be considered the first-line therapy for Actinic keratosis (AK). In PDT incubation time is required so that the photosensitizer can be converted to PpIX. The recommended treatment regimen of PDT requires a relatively long incubation time with ALA (4 hours) and MAL (3 hours) before illumination. Theoretically, ablative fractional laser (AFL) pre-treatment may facilitate the penetration and distribution of topically applied drugs, since the ablated laser holes extend into the dermis, thereby possibly acting as channels for drug uptake. However, knowledge on the optimal photosensitizer incubation time for AFL-PDT is limited. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficacy, recurrence rate, cosmetic outcome, and safety between AFL-PDT with 2 and 3hours of incubation vs. conventional MAL-PDT in patients with facial and scalp AK.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • age >18 years
  • the presence of 2-10 facial AK lesions

Exclusion criteria

  • lactating or pregnant women
  • patients with porphyria
  • a known allergy to any of the constituents of the MAL cream and lidocaine
  • patients with systemic disease
  • history of malignant melanoma
  • tendency for melasma development or keloid formation
  • any AK treatment of the area in the previous 4 weeks
  • any conditions associated with a risk of poor protocol compliance
  • patients on immunosuppressive treatment

Treatment and study plan

2h-AFL-PDT

Drug

AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at 300-550µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation, 22% treatment density, and a single pulse. In the 3h-MAL-PDT group, the above mentioned procedures were not performed. Immediately after AFL treatment, an approximately 1-mm thick layer of MAL (Metvix, PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) was applied to the lesion and on 5 mm of surrounding normal tissue. The area was covered with an occlusive dressing (Tegaderm, 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA). After incubation for 2 hours, the dressing and cream were removed, and the area was cleansed with saline. The area was irradiated with a red light-emitting diode lamp (Aktilite CL 128; PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) with peak emission at 632 nm, placed 5 cm away from the skin surface and total light dose of 37 J/cm-2

3h-AFL-PDT

Drug

AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at 300-550µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation, 22% treatment density, and a single pulse. In the 3h-MAL-PDT group, the above mentioned procedures were not performed. Immediately after AFL treatment, an approximately 1-mm thick layer of MAL (Metvix, PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) was applied to the lesion and on 5 mm of surrounding normal tissue. The area was covered with an occlusive dressing (Tegaderm, 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA). After incubation for 3 hours, the dressing and cream were removed, and the area was cleansed with saline. The area was irradiated with a red light-emitting diode lamp (Aktilite CL 128; PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) with peak emission at 632 nm, placed 5 cm away from the skin surface and total light dose of 37 J/cm-2

3hr-MAL-PDT

Drug

an approximately 1-mm thick layer of MAL (Metvix, PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) was applied to the lesion and on 5 mm of surrounding normal tissue. The area was covered with an occlusive dressing (Tegaderm, 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA). After incubation for 3 hours, the dressing and cream were removed, and the area was cleansed with saline. The area was irradiated with a red light-emitting diode lamp (Aktilite CL 128; PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) with peak emission at 632 nm, placed 5 cm away from the skin surface and total light dose of 37 J/cm-2.

Primary outcomes

  1. Difference of the efficacy between 3h-AFL-PDT, 2hr-AFL-PDT and 3h-MAL-PDT

    Time frame: Efficacy was evaluated at 3 months and 12 months after treatment

    The response was classified as either complete response (complete disappearance of the lesion) or incomplete response (incomplete disappearance of the lesion)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Difference of the cosmetic outcome between 3h-AFL-PDT, 2hr-AFL-PDT and 3h-MAL-PDT

    Time frame: Cosmetic outcome was assessed by each investigator for all lesions that achieved a complete response at 12 months

    It was graded as excellent (slight redness or pigmentation change), good (moderate redness or pigmentation change), fair (slight-to-moderate scarring, atrophy, or induration), or poor (extensive scarring, atrophy, or induration).

Other outcomes

  1. Difference of the recurrence rates and safety between 3h-AFL-PDT, 2hr-AFL-PDT and 3h-MAL-PDT

    Time frame: within 12 months after each treatment

    If the case of complete response of lesions, all patients were reviewed at 12 months to check recurrence.

    Adverse events reported by the patient were noted at each follow-up visit, including severity, duration, and need for additional therapy. All events due to PDT were described as phototoxic reactions(e.g. erythema, burning sensation, swelling, bleeding)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Dong-A University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Ablative Fractional Laser-assisted Photodynamic Therapy With Short Incubation Time for the Treatment of Facial and Scalp Actinic Keratosis: 12-month Follow-up Results of a Randomized, Prospective, Comparative Trial

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Sep 25, 2014
Registry last updated
Sep 25, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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