Repeated 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy following electro-curettage for pigmented basal cell carcinoma

5-Aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in the standard manner is ineffective for pigmented basal cell carcinoma (pBCC), because melanin absorbs the photoactivating light interred for protoporphyrin IX. The objective of this study was to assess the therapeutic outcome of pBCCs with repeated ALA-PDT following removal of pigmentation with electro-curettage. After electro-curettage, 16 pBCCs were treated with a combination of topical application of 20% ALA in O/W emulsion and topical instillation of 10% ALA solution, followed by photoactivating light. ALA-PDT was performed more than three times. Fourteen of 16 pBCCs showed CR. Two pBCCs showing PR or NR were excised. Repeated ALA-PDT following electro-curettage was effective for pBCC.     

5-氨基酮戊酸光动力治疗基底细胞癌疗效评价

目的:评价5-氨基酮戊酸光动力(ALA-PDT)治疗基底细胞癌的疗效及安全性.方法:回顾2016-2019年我院进行ALA-PDT治疗的17例基底细胞癌患者(浅表型14例,结节型3例)的临床资料.结果:14例浅表型基底细胞癌患者中13例患者皮损消退,仅留轻微色素沉着或色素减退,2例复发,1例于治疗后6个月后复发,1例于...     

Lack of selectivity of protoporphyrin IX fluorescence for basal cell carcinoma after topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid: implications for photodynamic treatment

Clinical trials of topical ALA in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) show significant recurrence rates. Exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is converted by intracellular enzymes to photoactive protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in human tissues. PpIX generates cytotoxic singlet oxygen when irradiated with visible light in the 400–640 nm range. To evaluate variability and heterogeneity in PpIX production by tumors in such trials, and to assess the usefulness of PpIX for marking skin tumors, we measured PpIX fluorescence distribution in BCC after topical application of 20% ALA cream. ALA cream was applied under occlusion for periods ranging from 3 to 18 h (average 6.9 h, SD 4 h) to 16 BCCs. ALA conversion to PpIX in the BCCs was assessed by in vivo photography, ex vivo video fluorescence imaging, and fluorescence microscopy. External macroscopic PpIX fluorescence, as assessed by in vivo and ex vivo imaging, correlated with the clinical presence of BCC. Examination by a digital imaging fluorescence microscope revealed inter- and intratumor fluorescence variability and heterogeneity. PpIX fluorescence corresponding to full tomor thickness was found in six superficial and four nodular tumors, and partial-thickness fluorescence was observed in five nodular tumors, but no PpIX fluorescence was observed in some areas of superficial, nodular and infiltrating tumors. In a significant number of nodular and infiltrating BCCs, topical ALA appeared to provide little or no PpIX in deep tumor lobules. In addition, no selectivity for tumor tissue versus normal epidermis was seen. The grossly brighter external PpIX fluorescence over tumors may be due, therefore, to enhanced penetration through tumor-reactive stratum corneum and to the tumor thickness. The absence of reproducible fluorescence marking of nodular and infiltrating BCC suggests that topical ALA, at least under the present delivery protocols, may not be a reliable regimen for photodynamic treatment of these BCCs.     

Bioavailability of aminolaevulinic acid and methylaminolaevulinate in basal cell carcinomas: a perfusion study using microdialysis in vivo

Background Photodynamic therapy is becoming a popular treatment for superficial nonmelanoma precancerous and cancerous lesions, showing excellent cosmetic results. Nevertheless, the reported cure rates vary and the transdermal penetration of drugs has been discussed as a limiting factor, particularly for treatment of nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Objectives To investigate the transdermal penetration of aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and methylaminolaevulinate (MAL) in BCC in vivo using a microdialysis technique. The different prodrugs were compared and the effect of curettage was studied. Methods Twenty patients with 27 histologically verified BCCs (13 superficial, 14 nodular) were included. All lesions were located at the front of the body (head and face excluded). The first 10 patients included were treated with MAL (13 BCCs), and the following 10 patients with ALA (14 BCCs). A light curettage was performed on every second lesion (curettage, n = 13; noncurettage, n = 14). Microdialysis catheters were inserted into the tumours at tissue depths varying from 0·4 to 1·9 mm. Dialysates were collected at 15–30‐min intervals for 4 h and the interstitial concentrations of MAL and ALA were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Results No significant difference in interstitial drug concentration was observed between lesions treated with ALA or MAL during the 4‐h measurement period. However, for the lesions with deeper catheter locations, i.e. at or below 1 mm (n = 11), drug concentrations above the detection limit were obtained in only six lesions. All but one BCC with superficial catheter location, i.e. < 1 mm (n = 16), exhibited detectable drug concentration (P = 0·026). The interstitial peak concentrations were reached within 90 min in 23 of the 27 BCCs, but were not found to be correlated with the depth of the catheters. No difference was found when comparing superficial and nodular BCCs, and the effect of curettage was found to be negligible. Conclusions The results imply that there is no significant difference in transdermal penetration of ALA and MAL in tumour tissue. Detectable levels of drug were not obtained in almost 50% of the lesions where catheters were situated 1–1·9 mm in the lesion. Curettage was not found to affect the interstitial concentration, indicating that penetration of drug indeed might be a problem when treating BCCs thicker than 1 mm.     

Treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas using topically applied delta-aminolaevulinic acid and a filtered xenon lamp

Received: 27 September 1995     

Photodynamic therapy for basal cell carcinoma: clinical and pathological determinants of response

Background Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly used in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). However, scant information is available about the impact of both patient‐ and lesion‐related characteristics on the effectiveness of therapy. Therefore, on the basis of the current data, it is difficult to draw clear‐cut indications to use PDT for treatment of BCC in clinical practice. Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological determinants of response of BCC to PDT with methylaminolevulinate (MAL) and red light. Methods The clinical and pathological characteristics of 194 BCCs in 135 patients, treated with MAL‐PDT, were evaluated. Lesions were treated with MAL‐PDT according to established methods and the response was assessed by clinical follow‐up of the patients. Results Complete response to PDT was 62%, with a better response for superficial BCC (95/116, 82%) than nodular BCC (26/78, 33%). When determinants of response were analysed, the nodular type and the location on the limbs emerged as significant clinical predictors of failure. Among the pathological characteristics, the nodular and infiltrative histotypes, as well as ulceration and tumour thickness were associated with a lower response to therapy. Patients’ age and gender, as well as the size of the lesions, were not found to be significant predictors. Conclusions Optimization of PDT procedure for BCC requires a careful selection of the lesions. In particular, superficial BCCs, preferentially located on the trunk, show the best therapeutic response.     

Successful treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma in the central face by photodynamic therapy in an Asian woman with dermoscopic diagnosis and a serial follow-up

Superficial basal cell carcinoma and tinea nigra sometimes share similar clinical manifestations. Herein, we report the case of a 56-year-old Asian woman with superficial basal cell carcinoma located on her philtrum, which was initially misdiagnosed as tinea nigra. We also describe the different distinguishing features of this lesion under dermoscopic examination to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Because of the relatively low rate of metastasis and less aggressive nature of a superficial basal cell carcinoma, cosmetic concerns should be taken into consideration in planning treatment. In this case, the patient received photodynamic therapy that yielded an excellent clinical response over a 9-months follow-up.     

Photodynamic therapy with meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin for basal cell carcinoma: a phase I/II study

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a convenient and effective method of treating small superficial tumours. New second-generation photosensitizers offer some advantages over first-generation sensitizers such as haematoporphyrin derivatives. OBJECTIVES: To define the optimal treatment parameters (drug dose, light dose and time interval) using meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (mTHPC) as a photosensitizer in patients with multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). METHODS: Light of 652 nm (100 mW cm(-2)) was used for illuminating different tumours (n = 187) with light doses of 5--15 J cm(-2). Following an intravenous injection of 0.1 mg kg(-1) mTHPC each patient (n = 5) was illuminated on 4 consecutive days. Each day at least three BCCs per patient were treated with PDT. RESULTS: Response evaluation at 6, 12 and 18 months showed maximum responses for illumination with 10 or 15 J cm(-2) on days 1 or 2 after injection (86% complete responses). Normal tissue reactions (oedema and erythema) around the treatment site were more severe on day 1 than after longer intervals. CONCLUSIONS: mTHPC is a very effective photosensitizer; short illumination times can result in long-term cures with good cosmetic healing and with skin phototoxicity of short duration.     

色素性基底细胞癌

报告1例色素性基底细胞癌。患者女,68岁。右侧腋下黑色条状斑块10余年。皮肤科检查:右侧腋下约3.0 cm×0.2 cm大黑色斑块,边界尚清,其上散在分布数个米粒大黑色丘疹,斑块中部可见糜烂、渗液,渗液周边可见炎症性红斑,无触痛。皮损组织病理检查:表皮层局灶瘤细胞巢,表皮至真皮层可见一肿块,由嗜碱性基底样细胞组成,可见细胞异形性及有丝分裂象,在肿块周边细胞呈栅栏状排列,可见收缩间隙。诊断:色素性基底细胞癌。     

Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of a giant superficial basal cell carcinoma

A 74-year-old man was referred to our department for the treatment of a 15 × 15 cm superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on his lumbar region. As surgical excision was considered too destructive, photodynamic therapy (PDT) was proposed. Methyl 5-aminolevulinate (MAL) cream was applied under occlusion for 3 h before illumination with a light-emitting diode lamp with an emission peak of 632 nm, a fluence rate of 83.3 mW/cm, and a light dose of 37 J/cm. A second MAL-PDT session was repeated 1 week later. The neoplastic area healed in 30 days. No recurrence has occurred after a 40-month follow-up period, but clinical observation continues. Although surgery still remains the treatment of choice for giant BCC, for which the local invasiveness and metastatic potential are well known, we offered our patient the option of PDT because we believed that classical surgery could hardly provide the same satisfactory outcome. As far as we know, this is the first case of giant BCC treated with PDT.     

Topical treatment of basal cell carcinoma with tazarotene: a clinicopathological study on a large series of cases

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in humans. Medical treatment modalities offer cost reductions and clinical advantages in selected cases such as low-risk areas, surgically inaccessible sites, patients with multiple neoplasms, and older, infirm or anticoagulated subjects. Tazarotene has been proposed for the treatment of BCC; however, data on its efficacy are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of tazarotene in a large series of BCCs, better to define the clinical advantages and the mechanisms of action in vivo. METHODS: Tazarotene 0.1% gel was applied daily for 24 weeks to 154 small superficial and nodular BBCs. Clinicopathological changes were followed during the therapy by dermoscopic and histological examination. Proliferation, retinoic acid receptors and apoptosis were investigated by immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end labelling on biopsies. RESULTS: At 24 weeks of therapy, 70.8% of the BCCs showed > 50% clinical and dermoscopic regression, and 30.5% healed without recurrences after 3 years of follow-up. At 12 weeks, biopsies showed that regression was associated with reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of basaliomatous cells. Most unresponsive tumours displayed a keratotic differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Tazarotene was effective in the majority of superficial and nodular undifferentiated BCCs treated, possibly by antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions in vivo. Keratotic BCCs were the major type among the unresponsive tumours, and were characterized by overexpression of p53 and cellular retinol binding protein-1 in comparison with undifferentiated tumours. Topical tazarotene represents an alternative medical choice for selected cases of BCC.     

氨基酮戊酸光动力疗法治疗基底细胞癌74例

目的:探讨不同方式联合氨基酮戊酸光动力疗法(ALA-PDT)治疗基底细胞癌(BCC)的疗效.方法:74例经病理确诊为浅表型或结节型BCC患者,分别采用手术联合ALA-PDT、高频电刀联合ALA-PDT及单纯使用ALA-PDT治疗.治疗后观察创面愈合情况和时间;1年后观察肿瘤复发、疤痕形成、外观效果等情况.结果:74例患...     

硬斑病样基底细胞癌一例

硬斑病样基底细胞癌是基底细胞癌的少见类型,临床上少见,易被忽视而误诊,现报道1例。患者,女,65岁。鼻背丘疹,硬斑10余年,增大伴少量结痂1年。皮肤科检查：鼻背部有一基底约1.5 cm×2 cm、略隆起的局限性浸润性蜡样硬斑块,其上可见条线状凹陷,周围稍红,表面高低不平,可见小片黑痂。组织病理诊断：硬斑病样基底细胞癌。手术切除皮损。     

痣样基底细胞癌综合征一例

痣样基底细胞癌综合征是一种罕见的常染色体显性遗传病,以泛发性皮肤基底细胞癌和多器官发育异常为主要临床特征。本文报告1例痣样基底细胞癌综合征患者,并结合相关文献对该病的发病率、发病机制、诊断标准、治疗方法等进行讨论。     

SUFU-associated Gorlin syndrome: Expanding the spectrum between classic nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome and multiple hereditary infundibulocystic basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), also known as Gorlin syndrome, is characterized by an aberrant activation of the hedgehog (Hh) pathway, most cases being caused by PTCH1 mutations. However, certain features such as multiple hereditary infundibulocystic basal cell carcinomas (MHIBCC), sclerotic fibromas, childhood medulloblastoma or meningioma may be relatively specific to a SUFU mutation. We present two patients with MHIBCC, along with a more complex cutaneous and extracutaneous phenotype. MHIBCC syndrome and BCNS may share clinical features and, indeed, both syndromes probably represent different degrees of upregulation in the Hh pathway.     

Keratotic basal cell carcinoma of the upper eyelid

A 62 year old woman presented with two large slowly growing pedunculated tumours. These were excised from the lateral aspect of the upper eyelid and were found to be keratotic basal cell carcinomas.     

Immunocryosurgery for basal cell carcinoma: results of a pilot, prospective, open-label study of cryosurgery during continued imiquimod application

Background/aim  Theoretical considerations support the combination of cryosurgery and topical imiquimod to treat basal cell carcinomas (BCC). The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility and efficacy of 'cryosurgery during continued imiquimod application' ('immunocryosurgery') to treat 'high-risk-for-recurrence' BCCs.
Methods  Thirteen patients with 21 biopsy-proven tumours (4 of 21 relapses after prior surgery) were included. After 2–5 weeks (median, 3) of daily 5% imiquimod cream application, the tumours were treated by liquid N₂ cryosurgery (spray, two cycles, 10–20 s) and imiquimod was continued for additional 2–12 weeks (median, 4). The outcome after at least 18 months of follow-up (18–24 months) is currently reported.
Results  Nineteen of 21 tumours responded promptly to immunocryosurgery; two tumours required additional treatment cycles to clear. Thus, the clinical clearance rate was 100%. Only 1 of 21(5%) tumour relapsed after at least 18 months of follow-up (cumulative efficacy: 95%).
Conclusions  'Immunocryosurgery' is a promising non-surgical combination modality to treat 'high-risk-for-recurrence BCCs'. Initial evidence is suggestive of an at least additive effect of the two combined modalities. Further studies comparing immunocryosurgery directly with cryosurgery and imiquimod monotherapies will confirm the reported results.     

色素性基底细胞癌一例

患者女,67岁.主因左耳后皮疹20年,溃烂2年余就诊.患者自述20年前左耳后长出一绿豆大小皮肤色丘疹,无自觉症状,数年后丘疹略增大,表面变粗糙,当地医院诊断刺瘊,自行数次用头发捆勒祛除之,未见效,皮疹增长缓慢无不适感.近5年常令其子用烟头烫,2年来丘疹反复糜烂、渗液、结痂,基底渐增大,色变黑,皮疹增大至鸽卵大小,中心溃烂不愈,无痛、痒感.     

Photodynamic therapy with delta-aminolaevulinic acid for nodular basal cell carcinomas using a prior debulking technique

The incidence of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) is still increasing, and there is a demand for an easy, effective and selective non-invasive treatment such as topical photodynamic therapy (PDT). Twenty-three patients with 24 nodular BCCs were treated once with delta-aminolaevulinic acid (delta-ALA) PDT (100 mW cm(-2), 120 J/cm2) 3 weeks after prior debulking of the BCCs. Three months after PDT, all lesions were surgically excised and histopathologically evaluated for residual tumour. Twenty-two (92%) of the 24 nodular BCCs showed a complete response on clinical and histopathological examination. PDT for superficially abraded nodular BCCs with topically applied delta-ALA and the VersaLight as light source is an easy, effective and safe therapy, with excellent cosmetic results and no serious side-effects, in cases where non-surgical treatment of BCCs is indicated.