The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the tolerance and efficacy of conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) with red light versus PDT with red light at half dose of illumination, as well as the changes produced by both interventions at the biomolecular level in patients with multiple actinic keratosis on the scalp. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does PDT with half-dose illumination protocol maintain clinical and biomolecular efficacy? Does PDT with half-dose illumination protocol improve intervention tolerance? Researchers will compare both treatment protocols using the patient as its own control. Participants scalp will be divided in two halves, one will be treated with PDT at conventional doses and the other with the half-dose illumination protocol, a skin biopsy will be obtained both pre and post-treatment of each of the areas. Variables will be assessed during the 3 visits of the study.
The goal of the clinical trial is to compare efficacy and tolerance of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with red light at half dose illumination protocol with conventional PDT for the treatment of grade I and II actinic keratosis. The main hypotheses is that half-light protocol PDT could maintain efficacy while improving tolerance of the procedure. With this aim the investigators will compare the efficacy of the clinical response after field treatment with photodynamic therapy with red light at half dose versus conventional photodynamic therapy with standard red light in patients with scalp actinic keratoses as well as determine changes in molecular biomarkers at the histological and immunohistochemical level pre- and post-treatment with conventional PDT and PDT with red light at half dose. The included patients will have their scalp divided into two halves of similar size using the interparietal line as a separation method; one half will be treated with conventional PDT and the other half with half-dose PDT. This is a comparative study between two treatment modalities, both of which will be applied to all patients, and in half of the sample, four skin biopsies of the affected area (two pre and tw post-treatment) will also be performed to conduct an immunohistochemical analysis of the skin samples. Both treatment protocols will be compared using the patient as his or her own protocol. Variables will be assessed during the 3 visits of the study (baseline, 3 months and 6 months).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
20
Area will be treated according to the classic protocol, in a single session. First, the surface of the actinic keratoses will be scraped to remove scales and crusts. Using a spatula, a sufficient amount of photosensitizing cream will be applied to cover the treatment area (1 mm thick). The treated area will then be covered with an occlusive dressing for 3 hours. After this interval, the dressing will be removed and the area will be exposed to a red light source for 8 minutes with a spectrum of 630 nm and 18,5J/cm2, with the illumination intensity being less than 200 mW/cm2.
Area will be treated according to the classic protocol, in a single session. First, the surface of the actinic keratoses will be scraped to remove scales and crusts. Using a spatula, a sufficient amount of photosensitizing cream will be applied to cover the treatment area (1 mm thick). The treated area will then be covered with an occlusive dressing for 3 hours. After this interval, the dressing will be removed and the area will be exposed to a red light source for 8 minutes with a spectrum of 630 nm and 37J/cm2, with the illumination intensity being less than 200 mW/cm2.
Response of 75% of the treated actinic keratosis at 3 months post-intervention.
Total count of actinic keratosis will be assessed
Time frame: 3 months after de procedure
Tolerance during intervention
Pain assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain)
Time frame: During the procedure
Histological grade of actinic keratosis in biopsies as well as relevant biomarkers
E-cadherin, MMPs, p53, UEA, HSP47 and CD117/c-kit presence on the tissue (from + to +++, depending on the intensity)
Time frame: 3 months after the procedure
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.