Combined Treatments with Photodynamic Therapy for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2015-10, Vol.16 (10), p.25912-25933
• Main Authors: Lucena, Silvia Rocío, Salazar, Nerea, Gracia-Cazaña, Tamara, Zamarrón, Alicia, González, Salvador, Juarranz, Ángeles, Gilaberte, Yolanda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: actinic keratosis; aminolevulinic acid; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; basal cell carcinoma; Bowen disease; Carcinoma - drug therapy; Carcinoma - metabolism; Cells; Combined Modality Therapy - adverse effects; Combined Modality Therapy - methods; Humans; Melanoma; methyl-aminolevulinic acid; Photochemotherapy - adverse effects; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Review; Skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms - drug therapy; Skin Neoplasms - radiotherapy; squamous cell carcinoma; tumor resistance; Tumors; White people
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms161025912

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common form of cancer in the Caucasian population. Among NMSC types, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has the highest incidence and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is less common although it can metastasize, accounting for the majority of NMSC-related deaths. Treatment options for NMSC include both surgical and non-surgical modalities. Even though surgical approaches are most commonly used to treat these lesions, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has the advantage of being a non-invasive option, and capable of field treatment, providing optimum cosmetic outcomes. Numerous clinical research studies have shown the efficacy of PDT for treating pre-malignant and malignant NMSC. However, resistant or recurrent tumors appear and sometimes become more aggressive. In this sense, the enhancement of PDT effectiveness by combining it with other therapeutic modalities has become an interesting field in NMSC research. Depending on the characteristics and the type of tumor, PDT can be applied in combination with immunomodulatory (Imiquimod) and chemotherapeutic (5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, diclofenac, or ingenol mebutate) agents, inhibitors of some molecules implicated in the carcinogenic process (COX2 or MAPK), surgical techniques, or even radiotherapy. These new strategies open the way to a wider improvement of the prevention and eradication of skin cancer.