| Abstract | BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a treatment modality that is increasingly used in dermato-oncology. Currently, 2 topical photosensitizers, 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) and methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) are widely used, but their efficacy in BCC has not yet been compared in a clinical setting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect, degree of pain, and costs of ALA-PDT versus MAL-PDT in nodular BCC (nBCC). METHODS: Patients suffering from BCC were randomly assigned to either ALA-PDT (n=22) or MAL-PDT (n=21) in a pilot study. In each group, half of the tumors were debulked prior to PDT. Eight weeks after treatment, the therapeutic outcome was checked histologically. Pain scores were assessed using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Residual tumor tissue was detected in 6 BCCs of each study group. No significant difference between ALA-PDT and MAL-PDT was found with regard to therapeutic efficacy and pain scores. Of note, however, the costs of MAL-PDT were 6-fold higher than those of ALA-PDT. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we did not observe any differences in short-term efficacy between ALA-PDT and MAL-PDT. Therefore, both ALA and MAL can be equally recommended as topical photosensitizers in PDT. |
| Authors | Daniëlle I Kuijpers, Monique R Thissen, Carleine A Thissen, Martino H Neumann
(Affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. dku at sder.azm.nl)
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| Journal | Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD
(J Drugs Dermatol)
2006 Jul-Aug
Vol. 5
Issue 7
Pg. 642-5
ISSN: 1545-9616 United States |
| PMID | 16865869
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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| Chemical References |
- Photosensitizing Agents
- Aminolevulinic Acid
|
| Topics |
- Administration, Topical
- Aminolevulinic Acid
(administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
- Carcinoma, Basal Cell
(drug therapy)
- Humans
- Pain Measurement
- Photochemotherapy
- Photosensitizing Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Pilot Projects
- Skin Neoplasms
(drug therapy)
- Treatment Outcome
|
