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Photodamaged SkinPhase 4NCT03573076

Treatment of Photodamaged Skin of the décolleté

A Phase 4 study testing Photodynamic therapy, Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL) and Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN) in people with Photodamaged Skin, run by Merete Haedersdal at 1 site in Denmark.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study investigates a non-ablative fractional thulium laser and a radio-frequency microneedling device as pre-treatment for combination photodynamic therapy in treatment of photoaged skin and actinic keratoses. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women only
Conditions the study is for
Photodamaged Skin
What is being tested?
Photodynamic therapy, Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL) and Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN)
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
12 participants
Where
1 siteDenmark
Study dates
10 Sep 2018to 18 Dec 2018
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Décolleté with chronic field-change photodamaged skin.
  • Area with visually homogenous photodamage.
  • Provide informed written consent.
  • Fertile women must provide a negative U-hCG pregnancy test at the time of inclusion, and use safe anticontraceptive during the entire study period, e.g. oral hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, subdermal implantation, or hormonal vaginal ring.

Who cannot join

  • Treatment of actinic keratoses in the décolleté area within the last 30 days.
  • Porphyria.
  • Pregnant or nursing women.
  • Skin cancer (invasive, in situ), keratoacanthoma, or other infiltrating tumors in the study area.
  • Known tendencies to produce hypertrophic scarring or keloids.
  • Allergies against Metvix creme solution, peanuts, or soy.
  • Considered unable to follow the study protocol, e.g. alcohol dependence syndrome.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Denmark1 site
  • Bispebjerg University Hospital

    Copenhagen, Copenhagen NV, 2400

Other trials in Denmark

About this study

Official title: Treatment of Photodamaged Skin of the décolleté With Fractional Laser, Radio-frequency Microneedling, and Photodynamic Therapy

This study investigates a non-ablative fractional thulium laser and a radio-frequency microneedling device as pre-treatment for combination photodynamic therapy in treatment of photoaged skin and actinic keratoses.

Read the detailed description

Photoaging of skin and actinic keratoses Photoaging of the skin is the result of UV radiation in chronic sun exposure and its deleterious effects. Photoaging includes fine and coarse wrinkles, roughness, laxity, mottled pigmentation, coarseness, sallowness, telangiectasia, solar lentigines and dysplastic actinic keratoses. The process can be of both cosmetic and medical importance. Actinic keratoses (AK) are common dysplastic pre-malignant lesions that may develop into a malign invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). SCCs have metastatic potential at up to 3%. The risk of malign transformation from AK to SCC is highest in chronic sun-damaged skin with confluent field-cancerization from multiple AK. National guidelines recommend treatment of the entire field of sun damaged skin with photodynamic therapy and several topical drugs, e.g. imiquimod, diclofenac, ingenol mebutate, and 5-fluoruracil. Repeat treatments are usually necessary to achieve the desired results in patients with chronic sun damaged skin.

Photochemical treatment with photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses a photosensitizer drug activated in the skin by light in the visible spectrum. Methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is a photosensitizing agent with great affinity for dysplastic cells, and transforms into the light-sensitive Protoporphyrin PpIX. When exposed to light, photoactivated PpIX catalyzes a reactive oxygen species reaction, which leads to irreversible cell apoptosis of the dysplastic or neoplastic tissue. PDT can be used as treatment of a wide range of photoaging skin defects including actinic keratoses, and is exceedingly well suited for treatment of larger skin areas. PDT produces cosmetically pleasing results in extension of the excellent AK clearance.

Physical intervention with fractional laser and light-based interventions

Fractional laser and light-based treatments with lasers and microneedles are approaches that can be applied very precisely, and can be used to rejuvenate photodamaged skin.

Laser-treatment for rejuvenation of skin can be achieved using a non-ablative 1927 nm fractionated thulium laser (NAFL), good results have been reported for many aspects of photoaging, and specifically for actinic keratoses with good results. The thulium laser works by creating vertical thermal laser-channels in the skin without the ablative effect to the epidermis. Laser-treatment with the thulium laser may be combined with other treatments like PDT to produce synergistic effects.

Microneedling (MN) is a treatment option in which the skin epidermis is penetrated by closely arranged multiple microneedles. This can induce collagen production and stimulate the release of growth factors, and collagen synthesis and remodeling, producing the effects of rejuvenation. Radio-frequency (RF) microneedling (MN), also known as RF-MN, adds RF making it possible for insulated needles to emit heat at the needle-heads when the epidermis is fully punctured, possibly enhancing the described effects even further. Good results have been reported using MN as skin rejuvenation, and can the treatment be used in conjunction with PDT.

The delicate skin of the décolleté is subject to a high amount of accumulated life-time sun exposure, and is thus highly susceptible to photoaging effects. A mild and effective treatment of photodamaged skin for this particular area is highly desirable, and may be achieved by developing new combination strategies, in which the thulium laser or a microneedling device can be used as effective pre-treatment for PDT. To our knowledge, no previous randomized study has compared the use of the non-ablative thulium laser or microneedling in combination with photodynamic treatment (PDT).

Being tested
Photodynamic therapy, Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL), Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN)

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Photodynamic therapyCombination product

    Photodynamic therapy with Methyl Aminolevulinate creme and red light.

  • Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL)Device

    Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL).

  • Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN)Device

    Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN).

Study groups in NCT03573076
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Thulium laser + photodynamic therapyExperimentalNon-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL) + Photodynamic therapy combination treatment
Receives: Combination Product: Photodynamic therapy; Device: Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL)
RF microneedles + photodynamic therapyExperimentalRadio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN) + Photodynamic therapy combination treatment
Receives: Combination Product: Photodynamic therapy; Device: Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN)
Non-ablative Thulium laserActive comparatorNon-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL) single treatment
Receives: Device: Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL)
RF microneedlesActive comparatorRadio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN) single treatment
Receives: Device: Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN)
ControlNo interventionControl receiving no intervention

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Clinical improvement of photodamage

    5-point categorial scale of photodamage severity, measuring changes in skin texture, pigmentation, telangiectasia, and wrinkles. Scores are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, for none, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe, respectively. A reduction in score from initial scoring to post-treatment is desirable.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Treatment effect on actinic keratoses

    Evaluated on the Olsen grading scale for actinic keratoses thickness. Scores are 1, 2, and 3, for slightly palpable, moderately thick, and very thick and hyperkeratotic, respectively. A reduction in score from initial scoring to post-treatment is desirable.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  2. Severity of local skin reactions

    Local skin reaction (LSR)-grading scale. Evaluation of redness, scaling, edema, pustules, and erosion on a 5-point categorial scale of severity. Scores are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, for individual parameters:

    Redness: None, slightly pink <50%, pink or light red >50%, red restricted to treatment area, and red extending outside treatment area.

    Scaling: None, isolated scale, scaling <50%, scaling >50%, scaling extending outside treatment area.

    Edema: None, slight specific edema, palpable edema beyond individual lesions, confluent and/or visible edema, and marked swelling extending outside treatment area.

    Pustules: None, vesicles only, transudate or pustules <50%, transudate or pustules >50%, and transudate or pustules extending outside treatment area.

    Erosion: None, lesion specific erosion, erosion extending beyond individual lesion, erosion >50%, and black eschar or ulceration.

    Measured: 7 days

  3. Presence of perceived pain during treatment

    VAS Visual analogue scale for perceived pain. Scores are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, ranging from none to very severe. Higher is worse, and lower scores for treatment modalities are desirable.

    Measured: 0 days

  4. Cosmetic results

    Cosmetic results on a 5-point categorial scale for perceived cosmetic outcome compared with base starting point for the individual patient. Scores are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, for poor, acceptable, good, excellent, and outstanding, respectively. A higher score is desirable.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  5. Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence uptake

    Levels of PpIX uptake in the skin computed quantitatively from PpIX imaging. Imaging before application, after 3 hours, and after LED exposure.

    Measured: 0 days

  6. Safety including wounding, scarring, hyper and hypo pigmentation

    Safety concerning side-effects evaluated on a 5-point categorial scale for hyper- and hypopigmentation, erosions, and scarring. Scores are 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, for none, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. A lower score is desirable.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Jun 2018
  2. Study start10 Sep 2018
  3. Primary completion18 Dec 2018
  4. Study completion18 Dec 2018

Why it stopped: The second study arm including radio-frequency microneedling was withdrawn due to availability of newer treatment options.

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
12 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03573076
Sponsor's protocol ID
2018-000189-12
Other IDs
2018
Status last verified
Jul 2020
First submitted
6 Jun 2018
Last updated
10 Jul 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Photodynamic therapy, Non-ablative Thulium laser (NAFL) and Radio-frequency microneedles (RF-MN) in people with Photodamaged Skin, run by Merete Haedersdal at 1 site in Denmark.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jul 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Denmark. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study was stopped early (reason given: The second study arm including radio-frequency microneedling was withdrawn due to availability of newer treatment options.). Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Clinical improvement of photodamage (time frame: 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jul 2020.

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