Patients with precursors to skin cancer can benefit from new effective combination therapy
The number of patients with actinic keratosis is increasing, and the risk rises with age. It is estimated that up to 25% of the Danish population has or has had precursors to skin cancer. Actinic keratoses are rough, red, scaly precursors to skin cancer that occur in sun-exposed areas such as the face, ears, arms, and hands. As the changes are very common and can develop into skin cancer, which affects over 15,000 Danes every year, it is important to develop tolerable and effective treatment methods.
Results from the recently concluded study conducted at Bispebjerg Hospital and Private Hospital Molholm show that combination therapy with 1 week of 5-fluorouracil cream followed by photodynamic therapy is more effective than photodynamic therapy alone. Particularly in the treatment of thicker actinic keratoses, the combination shows good results. The study also suggests that combination therapy is better at preventing the development of new actinic keratoses. Combination therapy results in slightly more skin irritation than photodynamic therapy alone. Therefore, the treatment is especially suitable for patients with widespread thicker actinic keratoses.
The study was conducted by senior researcher Stine Regin Wiegell from Bispebjerg Hospital, senior researcher Flemming Andersen from Private Hospital Molholm, PhD student Gabriella Fredman from Bispebjerg Hospital, Prof. Peter Bjerring from Aalborg University Hospital and Private Hospital Molholm, Prof. Uwe Paasch from Leipzig University, and Prof. Merete Haedersdal from Bispebjerg Hospital.
The new treatment method is already being used on suitable patients at both Bispebjerg Hospital and Private Hospital Molholm.
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Facts:
Bispebjerg Hospital has approx. 10,000 consultations with patients with precursors to skin cancer or skin cancer annually, and around 1700 photodynamic treatments are conducted each year. In Denmark as a whole, approx. 36,000 treatments for skin cancer are performed annually.
