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.

Conditions

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Interventions

DRUG

Levulan Kerastick

Intervention group subjects will undergo a surgical excision of the tumor. Then a clear transparency film will be used to trace the clinical margins of the lesion, as well as any other distinctive skin markings such as nevi or birthmarks. Subjects will then undergo the study procedure where the area to be treated will be swabbed with an alcohol wipe and allowed to dry. Next, the investigator will apply topical 20% 5-ALA (Levulan Kerastick; DUSA Pharmaceuticals) to the SCCis. Then, the area will be occluded with Tegaderm film for 3 hours.

DEVICE

blue light source

At the end of the incubation period, the Tegaderm will be removed and the patient will be exposed to a blue light source (BLU-U; DUSA Pharmaceuticals).

OTHER

participant satisfaction survey

Participants will be asked to fill out a satisfaction survey.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Rhode Island Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kachiu C. Lee, MD · University Dermatology

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-01-31

Primary Completion

2020-01-31

Completion

2020-01-31