Efficacy of Ablative Fractional Laser-assisted Photodynamic Therapy According to the Laser Density for Actinic Keratosis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) ablative fractional laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (AFL-PDT) has shown significant benefit for the treatment of actinic keratosis(AK). Er:YAG ablative fractional laser ablates the epidermis and dermis without significant thermal injury, creating microscopic ablation zones (MAZ) in the portion of the skin that the laser is applied to. The formed MAZ depends on the laser parameters such as laser depth, laser density and laser passes, which affect the treatment outcome.

Detailed Description
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This study evaluated whether different laser densities influenced the efficacy, side effects, cosmetic outcomes, and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) accumulation of AFL-PDT for facial AK in a randomized clinical trial.

Official Title
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A Comparison of the Efficacy of Ablative Fractional Laser-assisted Photodynamic Therapy According to the Density of Ablative Laser Channel in the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis

Conditions
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Actinic Keratosis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) application
* Device: 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL pretreatment
* Drug: MAL application
* Other: Measurements of the fluorescence intensity
* Device: irradiation with red light-emitting diode lamp


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Korean patients aged ≥ 18 years who had biopsy-confirmed Actinic keratosis lesions Exclusion Criteria: photosensitivity disorder patients Lactating or pregnant women Patients with porphyria or a known allergy to any of the constituents of the MAL cream and lidocaine Patients with systemic disease, history of malignant melanoma, tendency of melasma development or keloid formation, any AK treatment of the area in the previous 4 weeks, or any conditions associated with a risk of poor protocol compliance; and patients on immunosuppressive treatment

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 5.5% density AFL-PDT<br>After the anaesthetic cream was removed, AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at laser density of 5.5%, 350 µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation and a single pulse | Drug: lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) application<br>* For AFL pre-treatment, lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) cream (EMLA; Astra Pharmaceuticals, LP, Westborough, MA, USA) was applied to the treatment area under occlusion for 30 min<br>Device: 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL pretreatment<br>* After the anaesthetic cream was removed, AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at 5.5% or 11% or 22% laser density with 350 µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation and a single pulse<br>Drug: MAL application<br>* Immediately after AFL treatment, an approximately 1- mm-thick layer of MAL (Metvix, PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) was applied to the lesion and on 5 mm of surrounding normal tissue. Incubation time is 3 hours<br>Other: Measurements of the fluorescence intensity<br>* After 3 hours of application with MAL, saline wash was performed and fluorescence imaging analysis was performed with ultraviolet examination light (model 31602,356 nm; Burton Medical Products Crop.) at 10 cm height above the base of each lesion. The red fluorescence (610 nm-700 nm) was separated and extracted by Matlab program and then used to measure the amount of 633 nm fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX.<br>Device: irradiation with red light-emitting diode lamp<br>* After incubation for 3 hours, the dressing and cream were removed, and the area was cleansed with saline. The area was irradiated with a red light-emitting diode lamp (Aktilite CL 128; PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) with peak emission at 632 nm, placed 5 cm away from the skin surface, and a total light dose of 37 J/cm-2. All patients wore protective goggles during illumination.<br>|
| Experimental: 11% density AFL-PDT<br>After the anaesthetic cream was removed, AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at laser density of 11%, 350 µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation and a single pulse | Drug: lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) application<br>* For AFL pre-treatment, lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) cream (EMLA; Astra Pharmaceuticals, LP, Westborough, MA, USA) was applied to the treatment area under occlusion for 30 min<br>Device: 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL pretreatment<br>* After the anaesthetic cream was removed, AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at 5.5% or 11% or 22% laser density with 350 µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation and a single pulse<br>Drug: MAL application<br>* Immediately after AFL treatment, an approximately 1- mm-thick layer of MAL (Metvix, PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) was applied to the lesion and on 5 mm of surrounding normal tissue. Incubation time is 3 hours<br>Other: Measurements of the fluorescence intensity<br>* After 3 hours of application with MAL, saline wash was performed and fluorescence imaging analysis was performed with ultraviolet examination light (model 31602,356 nm; Burton Medical Products Crop.) at 10 cm height above the base of each lesion. The red fluorescence (610 nm-700 nm) was separated and extracted by Matlab program and then used to measure the amount of 633 nm fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX.<br>Device: irradiation with red light-emitting diode lamp<br>* After incubation for 3 hours, the dressing and cream were removed, and the area was cleansed with saline. The area was irradiated with a red light-emitting diode lamp (Aktilite CL 128; PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) with peak emission at 632 nm, placed 5 cm away from the skin surface, and a total light dose of 37 J/cm-2. All patients wore protective goggles during illumination.<br>|
| Experimental: 22% density AFL-PDT<br>After the anaesthetic cream was removed, AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at laser density of 22%, 350 µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation and a single pulse | Drug: lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) application<br>* For AFL pre-treatment, lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) cream (EMLA; Astra Pharmaceuticals, LP, Westborough, MA, USA) was applied to the treatment area under occlusion for 30 min<br>Device: 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL pretreatment<br>* After the anaesthetic cream was removed, AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at 5.5% or 11% or 22% laser density with 350 µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation and a single pulse<br>Drug: MAL application<br>* Immediately after AFL treatment, an approximately 1- mm-thick layer of MAL (Metvix, PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) was applied to the lesion and on 5 mm of surrounding normal tissue. Incubation time is 3 hours<br>Other: Measurements of the fluorescence intensity<br>* After 3 hours of application with MAL, saline wash was performed and fluorescence imaging analysis was performed with ultraviolet examination light (model 31602,356 nm; Burton Medical Products Crop.) at 10 cm height above the base of each lesion. The red fluorescence (610 nm-700 nm) was separated and extracted by Matlab program and then used to measure the amount of 633 nm fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX.<br>Device: irradiation with red light-emitting diode lamp<br>* After incubation for 3 hours, the dressing and cream were removed, and the area was cleansed with saline. The area was irradiated with a red light-emitting diode lamp (Aktilite CL 128; PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) with peak emission at 632 nm, placed 5 cm away from the skin surface, and a total light dose of 37 J/cm-2. All patients wore protective goggles during illumination.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Differences of short-term complete response rates between 3 groups | Lesion responses were classified as either a complete response (complete disappearance of the lesion) or a noncomplete response (incomplete disappearance) | Short-term complete response rates were evaluated at 3 months after treatment | 
| Differences of long-term complete response rates between 3 groups | In all cases of complete response, the patients were reviewed at 12 months to check for recurrence. Recurrence was assessed by inspection, dermoscopy, photography, palpation, and histologic findings. For the histopathologic evaluation of treatment response, at the 12-month follow-up visit, a 3-mm punch biopsy of the treated AK lesion was performed in all cases of clinically incomplete response. | Long-term complete response rates were evaluated at 12 months | 
| Difference of the recurrence rates between 3 groups | In all cases of complete response, the patients were reviewed at 12 months to check for recurrence. Recurrence was assessed by inspection, dermoscopy, photography, palpation, and histologic findings. For the histopathologic evaluation of treatment response, at the 12-month follow-up visit, a 3-mm punch biopsy of the treated AK lesion was performed in all cases of clinically incomplete response. | Recurrence rates were evaluated respectively at 12 months after treatment | 
| Differences of the fluorescence intensity between 3 groups | After 3 hours of application with methyl aminolevulinate(MAL), Fluorescence imaging analysis was performed on treatment area with ultraviolet examination light (model 31602,356 nm; Burton Medical Products Crop.) at 10 cm height above the base of each lesion. The red fluorescence was separated and extracted by Matlab program and then used to measure the amount of 633 nm fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX. | After 3 hours of application with MAL, fluorescence intensity imaging was assessed 10 minutes before illumination. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Differences of cosmetic outcomes between 3 groups | Cosmetic outcomes were graded as excellent (slight redness or pigmentation change), good (moderate redness or pigmentation change), fair (slight-to-moderate scarring, atrophy, or induration), or poor (extensive scarring, atrophy, or induration) | The overall cosmetic outcome was assessed 12 months after treatment | 
| Difference of adverse events (erythema, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, edema, itching, oozing, bleeding) rates between 3 groups | Adverse events reported by the patient were noted at each follow-up visit, including severity, duration and need for additional therapy. All events due to PDT were described as phototoxic reactions (i.e., erythema, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, oedema, itching, oozing, bleeding and so forth). | Within 12 months after each treatment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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actinic keratosis, ablative fractional laser, photodynamic therapy, ablative density, protoporphyrin IX