Efficacy and Safety of Laser‐Assisted Combination Chemotherapy: An Explorative Imaging‐Guided Treatment With 5‐Fluorouracil and Cisplatin for Basal Cell Carcinoma

Efficacy and Safety of Laser‐Assisted Combination Chemotherapy: An Explorative Imaging‐Guided Treatment With 5‐Fluorouracil and Cisplatin for Basal Cell Carcinoma:

Background and Objectives

Rising incidences of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have increased the need for effective topical therapies. By enhancing cutaneous uptake of the chemotherapeutic agents, cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), laser‐assisted delivery may provide a new combination treatment for BCC. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate tumor response, safety, and drug biodistribution in tumors and blood after topical laser‐assisted 5‐FU + CIS treatment in BCC patients.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

This open‐label, proof‐of‐concept trial investigated laser‐assisted combination cisplatin + 5‐FU treatment in 20 patients with histologically verified, low‐risk superficial or nodular BCCs on the face (<20 mm) or trunk/extremities (<50 mm). After tumor demarcation guided by optical coherence tomography (OCT), BCCs were exposed to ablative fractional CO₂ laser followed by 60 minutes topical cisplatin solution and 7‐day exposure to 5% 5‐FU cream under occlusion. After 30 days, treatment was repeated if any tumor residual was identified. Tumor response at day 30 and month 3 was assessed clinically as well as by OCT, reflectance confocal microscopy, and ultrasound, supplemented by histological verification at 3 months. Local skin reactions (LSRs) and side effects were evaluated on days 1, 3–5, 14, 30, and month 3. Drug detection in tumors and blood was performed in a subset of patients 1‐ and 24 hours after treatment.

Results

Nineteen patients completed the trial, with 32% (6/19) receiving a single treatment and 68% (13/19) treated twice. At 3 months, clinical clearance was seen in 18/19 patients with a corresponding 94% (17/18) achieving histological clearance. Baseline tumor thickness and subtype did not influence treatment number or clearance rate (P ≥ 0.61). LSRs were well‐tolerated and consisted of erythema, edema, and erosion, followed by crusting by day 14. Erythema declined gradually by month 3, with 94% of patients and 79% of physicians rating cosmesis as “good” or “excellent.” Scarring or hyperpigmentation was noted in 50% and 56%, respectively, while pain and infection were not observed during the follow‐up period. Although chemotherapy uptake was visualized extending to deep skin layers, no systemic exposure to cisplatin or 5‐FU was detected in patient blood.

Conclusion

Laser‐assisted cisplatin + 5‐FU shows potential as an effective and tolerable treatment option for low‐risk BCC, particularly in instances where self‐application is not possible or where in‐office, non‐surgical therapy is preferred. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC