Photodynamic therapy for non-melanoma skin tumours (including premalignant and primary non-metastatic skin lesions)

Non-melanoma skin tumours include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and actinic (or solar) keratosis.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It is generally a slow-growing, locally invasive epidermal skin tumour that rarely spreads to other distant parts of the body. Although it is not usually life threatening, the tumour can cause extensive tissue destruction if it is not treated adequately. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer in the UK. It arises from cells in the epidermis and spreads into the surrounding skin. It can also spread to nearby lymph nodes and may be life threatening in rare cases. Bowen's disease is an early form of non-melanoma skin cancer. If untreated, it can progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Actinic keratoses are small lumps of hard skin that are usually harmless but have the potential to develop into squamous cell carcinoma.

Current treatments for basal cell carcinoma include topical chemotherapy, curettage, surgical excision, cryotherapy and radiotherapy. Squamous cell carcinoma is usually removed surgically. Bowen's disease and actinic keratoses are usually treated with curettage, cryotherapy or topical chemotherapy.

In photodynamic therapy (PDT), the lesion is prepared by removing overlying crust and scale. A photosensitising agent is applied to the lesion and a margin of surrounding skin. The lesion is illuminated by light of an appropriate wavelength to activate the photosensitiser, producing targeted tumour destruction. Occasionally, the photosensitising agent may be given intravenously. More than one lesion may be treated in a session and the treatment can be repeated.

One randomised controlled trial (RCT) of patients with basal cell carcinoma reported that there was no statistically significant difference in lesion clearance between PDT and surgery (91% [48 of 53] and 98% [51 of 52] of patients, respectively). Another RCT reported that 25% (11 of 44) of patients had a positive biopsy at 12 months after PDT compared with 15% (6 of 39) of patients after cryotherapy (p>0.05). Both of these studies reported statistically significantly better cosmetic outcomes after PDT than after the comparator.

Two RCTs compared PDT and cryotherapy in patients with actinic keratosis. One reported a similar lesion clearance rate for PDT and cryotherapy (69% [252 of 367] and 75% [250 of 332], respectively), whereas the other reported a clearance rate of 91% (267 of 295) for lesions treated with PDT at 3 months, compared with 68% (278 of 407) of lesions treated with cryotherapy (p<0.001). Both studies reported that cosmetic outcomes were good or excellent in a significantly higher proportion of patients after PDT.

A case series of 59 patients with basal cell carcinoma reported that the overall cure rate was 79% (277 of 350) of lesions after a mean follow-up of 35 months. For more details refer to the sources of evidence.

The specialist advisors stated that there were some concerns about recurrence rates and that the treatment may be more appropriate for large, superficial lesions of Bowen's disease, actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma, especially where there are multiple lesions and where repair would otherwise require extensive surgery.

Adverse events were mainly transient local reactions. Three studies reported that the total rate of adverse events ranged from 43% (44 of 102) to 90% (38 of 42) of patients. The most common complication was a burning sensation of the skin, and this affected between 31% (16/52) and 64% (27 of 42) of patients. Two studies reported ulceration rates of 0% (0 of 20) and 12% (5 of 42), respectively. One large case series reported minor pigmentary changes and superficial scarring each in 2% (10 of 483) of lesions. Other adverse events included pain, erythema, crusting, itching, oedema and blisters. For more details refer to the sources of evidence.

The specialist advisors stated that the procedure is generally safe and well tolerated. It is theoretically possible that the treatment could induce carcinogenicity, but this is likely to be a low risk.

It was noted that there is a large variety of benign skin tumours and the guidance refers only to those mentioned in section 2.1.1.

It was noted that a variety of agents and treatments are used.

It was also noted that results may vary depending on the conditions being treated, and that a Cochrane review is being developed on photodynamic therapy for localised squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and its precursors.