Photodynamic Therapy with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Patch for the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis

Norbert Kiss; Klára Farkas; Giulio Tosti; Federico De Gado; Beata Bergler-Czop; Gilda Fazia; Antonella Tammaro; Carmen Cantisani

doi:10.3390/jcm11113164

Photodynamic Therapy with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Patch for the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis

J Clin Med. 2022 Jun 2;11(11):3164. doi: 10.3390/jcm11113164.

Authors

Norbert Kiss¹, Klára Farkas¹, Giulio Tosti², Federico De Gado³, Beata Bergler-Czop⁴, Gilda Fazia³, Antonella Tammaro⁵, Carmen Cantisani³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary.
² Melanoma and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Division, IRCCS, European Institute of Oncology, 20141 Milan, Italy.
³ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland.
⁵ NESMOS Dermatology Department, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is an emerging treatment option in the care of actinic keratosis (AK). A self-adhesive 5-ALA patch was recently developed that allows a precise PDT procedure. Here, we review the current literature and report the findings of our case series that observed the outcomes and safety of 5-ALA patch PDT. Ten patients with a total of 40 AKs were treated with a single session of conventional or daylight PDT using 5-ALA patch at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sapienza University of Rome or at the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. Complete response was observed in three patients, while partial response was seen in seven patients. Overall tolerability was good or excellent, with local adverse events observed in four patients. This is the first case series reported where the 5-ALA patch was applied using daylight PDT, and its efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of AK were demonstrated. In conclusion, the self-adhesive 5-ALA patch is a convenient application of PDT that provides a well-tolerated and effective treatment option with satisfactory cosmetic outcomes.

Keywords: 5-aminolevulinic acid patch; PDT; actinic cheilitis; actinic keratosis; daylight; non-melanoma skin cancer; photodynamic therapy; treatment.

Grants and funding

Supported by the ÚNKP-21-4-II-SE-10 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund (N.K.).