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.
Institute of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. fantini.fabrizio@unimore.it
F
F
Fantini
A
A
Greco
C
C
Del Giovane
A M
AM
Cesinaro
M
M
Venturini
C
C
Zane
T
T
Surrenti
K
K
Peris
P G
PG
Calzavara-Pinton
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D005121:Extremities / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D060726:Torso / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid