Optimization of photodynamic therapy with a novel self-adhesive 5-aminolaevulinic acid patch: results of two randomized controlled phase III studies.
BACKGROUND
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly used for treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) but is a cumbersome procedure. A thin self-adhesive patch (PD P 506 A) containing 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) was developed to facilitate PDT.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate efficacy and safety of the patch in comparison with placebo-PDT (superiority design, observer-blinded; study AK 03) and standard therapy, cryosurgery (noninferiority design, open; study AK 04).


METHODS
Two separate confirmatory randomized parallel-group phase III studies were set up. In total, 449 patients with up to eight mild to moderate AK study lesions located on the head were treated in 29 German study centres (study AK 03: 103 patients; study AK 04: 346 patients).


RESULTS
Twelve weeks after treatment, 5-ALA patch-PDT proved to be superior to placebo-PDT (P < 0.001) and cryosurgery (P = 0.007). Efficacy rates on a lesion basis were 82% (AK 03) and 89% (AK 04) for PDT, 77% for cryosurgery and 19% (AK 03) and 29% (AK 04) for placebo-PDT. Local reactions at the treatment site occurred in almost all patients treated with 5-ALA patch-PDT or cryosurgery. Headache was the only side-effect not related to the treatment site which occurred in more than one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
PD P 506 A is an innovative, easy-to-handle 5-ALA patch for PDT of mild to moderate AK lesions. Compared with current PDT procedures, pretreatment (e.g. curettage) is not needed and handling is considerably facilitated. A single PDT treatment results in efficacy rates being statistically significantly superior to placebo and cryosurgery.
Hauschild
A
A
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University of Kiel, Schittenhelmstr 7, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. ahauschild@dermatology.uni-kiel.de
Stockfleth
E
E
Popp
G
G
Borrosch
F
F
Brüning
H
H
Dominicus
R
R
Mensing
H
H
Reinhold
U
U
Reich
K
K
Moor
A C E
AC
Stocker
M
M
Ortland
C
C
Brunnert
M
M
Szeimies
R-M
RM
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004304:Dosage Forms; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid