CSP #562 - The VA Keratinocyte Carcinoma Chemoprevention Trial

Summary

The main purpose of this study is to see if 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) skin cream can prevent the growth of new skin cancers on the face and ears. The cost of trying to prevent skin cancer will be compared to the usual cost of treating skin cancer. Participants are being asked to be a part of this study because the participants have been treated for two or more skin cancers within the past five (5) years. At least one of these cancers occurred on the face or ears. Having had two or more skins cancers in the past 5 years makes it likely that participants will develop additional skin cancers in the future.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial sources such as tanning beds is a major cause of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Using lotions, creams, or gels that contain sunscreens can help protect the skin from premature aging and damage that may lead to skin cancer.

The 5-FU skin cream used in this study is FDA-approved to treat some types of skin cancers and spots that might become skin cancer. However, 5-FU skin cream has never been studied to see if it can prevent skin cancer. This drug is not approved by the FDA for how it will be used in this study.

In this study, one half of the patients will use the 5-FU cream and the other half will use a skin cream that looks identical to the 5-FU cream but does not have 5-FU or any other active drug in it.

Approximately twelve VA medical centers will work together in this study. About one thousand (1000) patients will be in this study. The study is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program.

Conditions

• Carcinoma, Basal Cell
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
• Skin Neoplasms
• Skin Diseases
• Neoplasms, Basal Cell
• Neoplasms, Squamous Cell
• Carcinoma

Interventions

DRUG

5-fluorouracil

Apply thin layer of topical 5-FU 5% cream twice daily to face and ears for 4 weeks. Treatment to be initiated immediately after randomization. If unable to tolerate the twice daily 5-FU, they will discontinue the treatment and initiate "cool-down" treatment with triamcinolone 0.1% cream twice daily until the symptoms resolve. At 3 weeks after stopping 5-FU, if and only if the participant has not received at least the minimum 2 week (28 dose) course, 5-FU treatment will be resumed on a once-daily basis to complete the 56 dose course. If this is not tolerated, the "cool-down" routine will be followed, but 5-FU will be stopped.

DRUG

Placebo, vehicle control

Apply thin layer of vehicle control cream twice daily to face and ears for 4 weeks. Treatment to be initiated immediately after randomization. If unable to tolerate the twice daily vehicle control cream, they will discontinue the treatment and initiate "cool-down" treatment with triamcinolone 0.1% cream twice daily until the symptoms resolve. At 3 weeks after stopping vehicle control cream, if and only if the participant has not received at least the minimum 2 week (28 dose) course, vehicle control cream treatment will be resumed on a once-daily basis to complete the 56 dose course. If this is not tolerated, the "cool-down" routine will be followed, but vehicle control cream will be stopped.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Martin A. Weinstock, MD · Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-06-26

Primary Completion

2013-06-28

Completion

2016-07-30

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations