Study of Electronic Brachytherapy for Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Rationale: Electronic brachytherapy (EBT) offers an isotope-free radiation therapy modality for the treatment of specific skin lesions, especially non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Within the treatment of NMSC, surgical removal of the lesion is currently the treatment of choice for the majority of cases. However in an estimated 10-15% of NMSC patients, surgery might not be the best treatment option. Location of the tumour in cosmetically sensitive areas, patient comorbidities, old age, use of anti-coagulation etc. might all be reasons to select radiotherapy as first choice of treatment.
• Objective: To determine histologically confirmed clinical efficacy, safety, and usability of Electronic Brachytherapy, an innovative treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC).
• Study design: Prospective, out-patient based, single centre, single treatment modality
• Study population: 40 patients, >18 years old, having at least 1 BCC. Intervention: BCC will be treated with EBT, using low-energy X-rays. Area of the lesion will be evaluated for tumour presence and size before, during and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment. If the patient has more than one BCC, all of them will be treated with Electronic Brachytherapy but only the largest one will be analysed in the study.
• Main study parameters/endpoints: Local control of BCC.
• Secondary parameters: Acute skin toxicity, skin cosmesis, and care giver satisfaction, and patient satisfaction.
• Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Patients will be exposed to low-energy X-rays. Required site-visits are: 1 pretreatment visits (intake/informed consent and biopsy), 6 treatment visits over the course of 2-3 weeks, 6 control-visits 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months after treatment.
• Patients will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire to evaluate their quality of life.

Inclusion criteria

• Men or women ≥18 years old.
• Estimated life expectancy of ≥5 years
• Histopathologic diagnosis of early and primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
• Clinical stage of BCC: T1 or T2 (by AJCC 2010 criteria, see Table 1)
• Histological subtypes: Superficial BCC or nodular BCC
• Maximum diameter of lesion: 20 mm
• Maximum depth of invasion: 4 mm.
• Ability to provide informed consent
• Punch biopsy of primary tumor to depth of reticular dermis

Exclusion criteria

• Men or women <18 years old.
• Estimated life expectancy <5 years.
• BCC that was previously treated (ie, recurrent BCC)
• BCC in region adjacent to or overlapping with region of prior radiotherapy
• BCC on irregular surface (ie, target area not flat)
• BCC adjacent to or overlapping with burn or scar
• BCC in area prone to trauma
• BCC in area with compromised lymphatic drainage or vascular supply
• Inflammatory process in target area
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Collagen vascular disease (lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis)
• Diabetes that is poorly controlled (Hg A1c >7%)
• Genetic disorder predisposing patient to skin cancers or radiation sensitivity (basal cell nevus syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum, ataxia telangiectasia mutans)
• Receipt of treatment with another investigational device or drug
• Receipt of drug that will affect biologic response to radiation (radiosensitizer or radioprotector)
• Receipt or plan to receive chemotherapy within 6 weeks of radiation therapy
• High likelihood of protocol non-compliance (in opinion of investigator)