Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Chlorine-Based Photosensitizer in the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinomas

• T.P. Artsemyeva

  Department of Hyperthermia and Photodynamic Therapy, N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center of Belarus, Lesnoy, Republic of Belarus

• D.A. Tzerkovsky

  Laboratory of Morphology, Molecular and Cellular Biology with Group of Experimental Medicine, N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Center of Belarus, Lesnoy, Republic of Belarus

The aim of this study is to evaluate a safety and antitumor efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chlorine-based photosensitizer (PS) for treatment patients with basal cell skin carcinomas (BCC).

Material and Methods: The work was performed on the basis of the Department of hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy. The object of the study were 172 patients with a verified diagnosis of BCC (T1N0M0, I stage), who received treatment from 2007 to 2022. PS «Photolon» (RUE «Belmedpreparaty», Republic of Belarus) was administrated intravenously at a dose of 2.0-2.5 mg/kg. The session of PDT was performed 2.5-3 h after intravenous injection of PS using semiconductor lasers (λ=660±5 nm) with exposure doses 50-250 J/cm² and power density – 0.15-0.5 W/cm². Frequency and severity of side effects after treatment session was assessed based on the criteria CTCAE (Version 4.03; 2010). The antitumor efficacy was evaluated 3 months after treatment. Clinical outcome was evaluated visually and morphologically by cytological or histopathological examination. Performance criteria were as follows (according to WHO, 1979).

Results: The phenomenon of skin phototoxicity due to violation of the light regime (hyperemia, burning, slight swelling of the soft tissues of the face; CTCAE, I-II grades) was registered in 5.8% of cases (n=10). Serious adverse reactions (anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema, severe pain syndrome) after the administration of PS and photoirradiation were not identified. Complete and partial regressions of tumors was observed in 93.0% and 4.7% of patients, respectively. The objective answer was 97.7%. The frequency of local relapses of the disease 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years after PDT was 3.1%, 3.1%, 4.6%, 4.6% and 6.9%, respectively.

Сonclusion: PDT is a well-tolerated and highly effective therapeutic option in patients with BCC.

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