Predictors of basal cell skin cancer recurrences after photodynamic therapy with Photolon photosensitizer

Purpose: To study predictors (risk factors) of recurrences of basal cell skin cancer (BCSC) after photodynamic therapy (PDT) with photosensitizer Photolon. Materials and methods. 321 patients with basal cell skin cancer were examined. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 – 118 patients, with relapses after PDT and Group 2 – 203 patients, without relapses after PDT. All patients had PDT with preliminary administration of photosensitizer Photolon at the dosage 1.1–1.2 mg/kg. Laser irradiation of tumor lesions was made in 3 hours after preliminary Photolon injection with laser apparatus “Latus-2” (wavelength 662 nm, light dose 200–300 J/cm² , power density 300–400 mW/cm² ). Results. In the presented trial, the impact of following factors (predictors ) at PDT outcomes as gender, age, neoplasm size, clinical features of the process (previous treatment, what technique) was studied. The analysis performed has shown that in Group 1 (with recurrences after PDT), tumors larger than 2.0 cm (z = 5.07, p < 0.00001) prevailed in men and in women of all age groups. In addition, in this group there were more patients who had been treated previously and who had tumors larger than 2.0 cm after previous radial therapy (z = 3.53, p < 0.00002), after coagulation (z = 1.68, p < 0.05) and after PDT (z = 1.97, p < 0.03). In Group 2 (without recurrences), tumor foci were up to 2.0 cm in all patients, regardless of the antitumor treatment modality. Conclusion. Risk factors for BCSC recurrences after PDT with Photolon in men and women in all age groups are: size of malignant neoplasm more than 2.0 cm; previous treatment: radial therapy, to a greater extent; coagulation and PDT, to a lesser extent.

photodynamic therapy, Photolon photosensitizer, basal cell skin cancer, tumor recurrence, recurrence predictor

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