Randomized comparison of photodynamic therapy with topical 5-fluorouracil in Bowen's disease

• Published in: British journal of dermatology (1951) Vol. 148; no. 3; pp. 539 - 543
• Main Authors: Salim, A., Leman, J.A., McColl, J.H., Chapman, R., Morton, C.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.03.2003; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: 5-aminolaevulinic acid; 5-fluorouracil; Administration, Topical; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aminolevulinic Acid - administration & dosage; Aminolevulinic Acid - adverse effects; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic - administration & dosage; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Bowen's disease; Bowen's Disease - drug therapy; Dermatology; Diseases of the skin. Cosmetics; Dyskeratosis; Female; Fluorouracil - administration & dosage; Fluorouracil - adverse effects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Photochemotherapy - methods; photodynamic therapy; protoporphyrin IX; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Skin Neoplasms - drug therapy; Treatment Outcome; Human; Dyskeratosis; Skin disease; Premalignant lesion; Photodynamic therapy; Enzyme; Transferases; Fluoropyrimidine derivatives; Enzyme inhibitor; 5-aminolaevulinic acid; Bowen's disease; Bowen disease; Thymidylate synthase; Percutaneous route; 5-fluorouracil; Local administration; Treatment; Methyltransferases; Antimetabolic; Pyrimidine derivatives; photodynamic therapy. protoporphyrin IX; Comparative study; Fluorouracil
• ISSN: 0007-0963; 1365-2133
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05033.x

Summary Background Bowen's disease (BD; intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma) is therapeutically challenging because lesions, which may be multiple, are frequently located at sites that heal poorly. There is a small risk of progression to invasive carcinoma. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective treatment for certain non melanoma skin cancers, but comparison studies with other, better‐established therapies are limited. Objectives To compare the efficacy and tolerability of PDT and topical 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) in BD. Methods Forty patients from two centres were randomized to either topical PDT or 5‐FU. The PDT group was treated with 20% 5‐aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) applied 4 h before illumination with 100 J cm−2 narrowband red light (630 ± 15 nm). 5‐FU was applied to lesions for 4 weeks. A repeat treatment cycle was performed after 6 weeks if required. Results Twenty‐nine of 33 (88%) lesions treated with PDT initially responded completely, compared with 22 of 33 (67%) after 5‐FU. After 12 months, two recurrences in the PDT group and six in the 5‐FU group reduced complete clinical clearance rates to 82% and 48%, respectively. PDT was significantly more effective (P = 0·006, odds ratio 4·78, 95% confidence interval 1·56–14·62). In the 5‐FU group, severe eczematous reactions developed around seven lesions, ulceration in three and erosions in two. No such reactions occurred following PDT. There was no difference in overall pain experienced during each therapy. Conclusions Topical ALA‐PDT is more effective than topical 5‐FU in the treatment of BD, with fewer adverse events. ALA‐PDT should be considered one of the first‐line therapeutic options for BD.