Metvix Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Versus Cryotherapy in Participants With Primary Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma

A Multicenter, Phase III, Randomised Study of Photodynamic Therapy With Metvix Cream 160 mg/g in Comparison With Cryotherapy in Patients With Primary Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) cream to cryotherapy, in treatment of participants with primary superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Secondary objectives was to compare cosmetic outcome and tolerability (adverse events) in these participants, 3 months after treatment. In addition the recurrence rates in the two treatment groups will be compared up to five years after treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Metvix® cream; Procedure: Hand held liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy

Detailed Description

BCC was a highly frequent skin malignancy, and accounts for approximately 75% of all non-melanoma skin cancers. It is the most common malignant tumour of any organ, mostly affecting head and neck (84%) in fair-skinned people. Several non-pharmacological treatment modalities was used for BCC, including excision surgery, Moh's surgery, radiation, curettage/electrodesiccation and cryotherapy. The treatment used depends on the type, size, depth and localisation of the BCC lesion.

The use of PDT was attractive for the treatment of BCCs because of its efficiency, mild and local side effects and excellent cosmetic outcome. Previous clinical experience was promising and participants with primary BCCs were included in this prospective, randomised, comparative, multicenter study to show that Metvix is non-inferior to alternative treatment with better cosmetic outcome.

The primary end-point is the number of participants in whom 75% or more of the BCC lesions have responded completely at 3 months after PDT with Metvix or 3 months after cryotherapy. Both on-site and independent, blinded response assessments analysed. The analysis based on the results of the independent review board constitutes the primary analysis.

The secondary end-points was the proportion of participants in whom less than 75% of the BCC lesions respond completely, number of lesions across participants that show complete response, evaluation of cosmetic outcome and adverse events 3 months after Metvix PDT or 3 months after cryotherapy. In addition 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months recurrence rates was assessed.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Austria
  • Graz, Austria, 8036
    • University of Graz
• Belgium
  • Leuven, Belgium, B3000
    • Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
• Finland
  • Helsinki, Finland, 00029
    • Helsinki University Central Hospital
• France
  • Marseille, France, 13277
    • Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite
  • Paris, France, 754747
    • Service de Dermatologie, C.H.U Saint Louis
• Italy
  • Brescia, Italy, 25125
    • Spedali di Brescia
• Sweden
  • Jönköping, Sweden, 55185
    • Länsjukhuset Ryhov
  • Linköping, Sweden, 58185
    • Universitetssjukhuset
  • Stockholm, Sweden, 14186
    • Huddinge Sjukhus
  • Örebro, Sweden, 70185
    • Regionsjukhuset i Örebro
• United Kingdom
  • Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF4 4XN
    • University of Wales
  • Dundee, United Kingdom, DDI 954
    • Ninewells Hospital
  • Falkirk, United Kingdom, F1 5QE
    • Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary
  • Glasgow, United Kingdom, GI2 8QQ
    • Glasgow University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

A participant with superficial BCC lesion(s) suitable for entry was defined as a participant with:

• histologically confirmed diagnosis of primary superficial BCC lesion(s)
• BCC lesions suitable for cryotherapy
• males or females above 18 years of age
• written informed consent. In accordance with Amendment 2 (local amendment), only participant above 19 years of age were to be included in Austria.

Exclusion Criteria:

A participant or lesion fulfilling any of the following criteria was ineligible for inclusion:

• prior treatment of the BCC lesion(s)
• participant with more than 10 eligible BCC lesions
• a superficial BCC lesion with the largest diameter exceeding 15 mm on face/scalp, larger than 20 mm on extremities and neck and larger than 30 mm on the trunk
• a superficial BCC lesion with the largest diameter smaller than 6 mm
• participant with porphyria
• participant with Gorlin's syndrome
• pigmented superficial BCC lesion(s)
• morpheaform lesion(s)
• infiltrating lesion(s)
• participants with a history of arsenic exposure
• known allergy to Metvix®, a similar PDT compound or excipients of the cream
• participation in other clinical studies either concurrently or within the last 30 days
• pregnant or breast-feeding; all women of child-bearing potential had to document a negative pregnancy test and use the pill or intrauterine device during the treatments and for at least one month thereafter
• conditions associated with a risk of poor protocol compliance.

In Amendment 1 the following exclusion criteria were added:

• xeroderma pigmentosum lesion
• concurrent use of immunosuppressive medication.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Metvix® PDT; Participants with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions were administered to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Metvix® cream 160 milligrams per gram (mg/g) applied for three hours, followed by illumination using non-coherent light with a fluency of 75 Joule per centimeter square (J/cm*2) and fluency rate of 70-200 milliwatt per centimeter square (mW/cm*2) up to 13 weeks.	Drug: Metvix® cream; Other Names: Methyl 5-aminolevulinate hydrochloride
Active Comparator: Cryotherapy; Cryotherapy was performed with a hand-held liquid nitrogen spray, using a double freeze-thaw cycle. After an initial icefield formation with a 3 millimeter (mm) rim of clinically healthy tissue, the icefield was to be maintained for a minimum of 20 seconds. This procedure was repeated after a thaw of 2-3 times the freeze time up to 12 weeks.	Procedure: Hand held liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants With Histologically Confirmed Patient Complete Response (CR) 3 Months After Last Metvix PDT or Cryotherapy Cycle	Patient Complete Response (CR) was defined as 100 percentage of the lesions within the participant having negative findings for nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the histological examination.	3 months after last Metvix PDT or Cryotherapy cycle, up to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Lesion With Complete Response 3 Months After Last Metvix PDT or Cryotherapy Cycle	Complete response was defined as no clinically visible BCC lesions in the treatment area.	3 months after last Metvix PDT or Cryotherapy cycle, up to 6 months
Overall Cosmetic Outcome Assessed by Investigator 3 Months After the Last Metvix PDT or Cryotherapy Cycle	Cosmetic outcome was assessed by both investigator and participants in participants with 100% of lesions in complete response. Overall cosmetic outcome was assessed with regard to occurrence of the following signs or symptoms; scarring, atrophy, induration, redness or change in pigmentation. The investigator graded the cosmetic outcome as: excellent: no scarring, atrophy or induration, and no or slight occurrence of redness or change in pigmentation compared lo adjacent skin; good: no scarring, atrophy or induration but moderate redness or change in pigmentation compared to adjacent skin; fair: slight to moderate occurrence of scarring, atrophy or induration; poor: extensive occurrence of scarring, atrophy or induration.	3 months after the last metvix PDT or Cryotherapy cycle (Up to 6 months)
Overall Cosmetic Outcome Assessed by Participants 3 Months After the Last Metvix PDT or Cryotherapy Cycle	Cosmetic outcome was assessed by both investigator and participants in participants with 100% of lesions in complete response. Overall cosmetic outcome was assessed with regard to occurrence of the following signs or symptoms; scarring, atrophy, induration, redness or change in pigmentation. The participants graded the cosmetic outcome as: excellent: no scarring, atrophy or induration, and no or slight occurrence of redness or change in pigmentation compared lo adjacent skin; good: no scarring, atrophy or induration but moderate redness or change in pigmentation compared to adjacent skin; fair: slight to moderate occurrence of scarring, atrophy or induration; poor: extensive occurrence of scarring, atrophy or induration.	3 months after the last metvix PDT or Cryotherapy cycle (Up to 6 months)
Recurrence Rate in Complete Clearance Group	Recurrence rate in complete clearance group was analyzed.	12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after last Metvix PDT cycle or Cryotherapy (Up to 5 years)
Overall Cosmetic Outcome Assessed by Investigator 24, 36, 48, and 60 Months After the Last Metvix PDT or Cryotherapy Cycle	Cosmetic outcome was assessed by both investigator and participants in participants with 100% of lesions in complete response. Overall cosmetic outcome was assessed with regard to occurrence of the following signs or symptoms; scarring, atrophy, induration, redness or change in pigmentation. The investigator graded the cosmetic outcome as: excellent: no scarring, atrophy or induration, and no or slight occurrence of redness or change in pigmentation compared lo adjacent skin; good: no scarring, atrophy or induration but moderate redness or change in pigmentation compared to adjacent skin; fair: slight to moderate occurrence of scarring, atrophy or induration; poor: extensive occurrence of scarring, atrophy or induration.	24, 36, 48, and 60 Months After the Last Metvix PDT Cycle (Up to 5 years)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Galderma R&D
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nicole Basset-Séguin, Professor, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 18, 1999
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 5, 2001
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2007
• First Posted (Estimated): May 4, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 19, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 21, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Photodynamic therapy; Methyl aminolevulinate; Primary Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms, Basal Cell; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Photosensitizing Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Aminolevulinic Acid; Methyl 5-aminolevulinate
• Other Study ID Numbers: PC T304/99

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No