Research project (completed)

Pretreatment with topical 5-fluorouracil before daylight photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses – a randomized controlled study

Actinic keratoses are very common premalignant lesion in sun exposed skin.
 

5-Fluorouracil cream and photodynamic therapy are effective treatment for especially thin actinic keratosis and more effective treatments are needed for thicker lesions. Combination treatment with 5-fluorouracil cream and photodynamic therapy may enhance the efficacy and introduce an easy and tolerable treatment option for these very common lesions.

The objective of the study is to investigate if pre-treatment with 5-fluorouracil cream can enhance the efficacy of daylight photodynamic therapy of actinic keratoses in the face and scalp. Patients with multiple actinic keratoses will be included in the study and serve as their own control due to the split-face design. To symmetrical areas are marked and one area is randomized 5-fluorouracil cream for 7 days. Both treatment areas are then treated with daylight photodynamic therapy either outdoor or indoor using daylight lamps. The efficacy of the treatment is evaluated after 3, 6 and 12 months.

Photo: Nis Kentorp

Researcher

Consultant dermatologist Stine Regin Wiegell, PhD, MDSc (Bispebjerg Hospital)

Project supervisors

Professor Peter Bjering

Professor Merete Hædersdal

Project period

Year:  2021 - 2024

Project collaborators

Professor Uwe Paasch, Leipzig German Medical Engineering, Erlangen, Germany (sponsoreret Dagslys-lamper)

Financing

Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital

SkinCenter Mølholm Private Hospital

Danish Research Center for Skin cancer

Selected publications

Wiegell SR, Wulf HC, Szeimies R-M et al. Daylight photodynamic therapy for actinic keratosis: an international consensus. JEADV 2012; 26:673-9

Wiegell SR, Fabricius S, Gniadecka M et al. Daylight-mediated photodynamic therapy of moderate to thick actinic keratoses of the face and scalp: a randomized multicentre study. Br J Dermatol 2012; 166:1327-32

Nissen CV, Heerfordt I, Wiegell SR al. Pretreatment with 5-Fluorouracil cream enhances the efficacy of daylight-mediated photodynamic therapy for actinic keratosis. Acta Derm Venereol 2017; 97:617-21.

Maytin EV, Anand S, Riha M et al. 5-Fluorouracil enhances protoporphyrin IX accumulation and lesion clearance during photodynamic therapy of actinic keratoses: a mechanism-based clinical trial. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:3026-35.

Pei S, Kaminska ECN, Tsoukas MM. Treatment of actinic keratoses: a randomized split-site approach comparison of sequential 5-fluorouracil and 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy to 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic monotherapy. Dermatol Surg 2017: 43: 1170-1175.