title: Comparison of aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-thermogel-PDT with methyl-ALA-thermogel-PDT in basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and light irradiation is a treatment option in basal cell carcinomas (BCC). The development of ALA-esters with potential for greater penetration depth promises higher therapeutic success. In a pilot study, we hypothesized that the cytotoxic effect of methyl-ALA (mALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) leads to a higher success rate compared with ALA-PDT when both are topically applied in a thermogel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with 112 superficial BCC were treated with either 10% ALA- or mALA-thermogel. After an accumulation time of at least 3h, the lesions were illuminated with a diode laser. The power density was 0.1W/cm(2) and the energy density was 120J/cm(2). After intervals of 12 weeks and 6 months, the therapeutic efficacy was assessed by clinical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty percent of the tumors were treated successfully in the first session. All but 3% of the remaining tumors could be treated with a second or third course of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although mALA should have a greater penetration depth, the therapeutic outcome of this preliminary study showed no difference between treatments. The final proof of this preliminary result will require further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schleier
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berndt
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Erfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Susann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolossa
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hyckel
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schultze-Mosgau