CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04091022Updated Dec 17, 2025

Topical Diclofenac and Topical DFMO Chemoprevention Trial in Subjects With a History of Skin Cancer

A Phase 2 interventional study of Solaraze and Vaniqa in Non-melanoma Skin Cancer, sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-17.

Sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
64
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a single institution, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase IIB trial of 1) topical diclofenac and topical DFMO, or 2) placebo in participants with a history of non melanoma skin cancer/ keratinocytic cancers.

Read the detailed description

There will be two groups to the study. Individuals, aged 18 years or older, who have extensive actinic damage, at least 8 AKs and a history of at least one non-melanoma skin cancer, but are in otherwise general good health, will be given topical diclofenac and topical DFMO. They will be compared to individuals, aged 18 years or older, who have extensive actinic damage, but are in otherwise general good health, will be given placebo. All participants must be at increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer as evidenced by a history of prior squamous or basal cell skin cancer, ongoing or history of actinic keratoses, and the presence, at baseline, of at least eight actinic keratoses on the face, neck, scalp and arms. Subjects will be randomized to:

  1. topical diclofenac once daily and topical DFMO once daily
  2. placebo for the topical diclofenac once daily and placebo for the topical DFMO once daily
02

Conditions studied

  • Non-melanoma Skin Cancer

Keywords

  • topical chemoprevention
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham is the lead sponsor of 1,396 studies on the registry; 284 are open to participants now.

Of its 156 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 124 (79%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Previous treatment for basal or squamous cell skin cancer stage 0-2 and current evidence of at least actinic keratosis on the upper extremities (upper arms, forearms and hands), neck, face or scalp.
  • >18 years of age
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document
  • ECOG performance status 0-1
  • Willing and able to participate for the full duration of the study
  • Willing to abstain from:

    • The application of topical medications including prescription and over the counter preparations (e.g., Topical preparations containing corticosteroids or vitamin A derivatives) to intended treatment areas for the duration of the study. Use of moisturizers/emollients and sunscreens on these areas is allowed.
    • Chronic (defined as > 3 times/week for more than 2 consecutive weeks/year) NSAID and COX-2 inhibitor use (other than cardioprotective doses of aspirin \< 100 mg po QD) for the duration of the study
  • Normal organ and marrow function defined as laboratory values falling within the specified ranges for the following tests (performed within 365 days of registration)

Hematologic

  • WBC >3,000/ul
  • Hemoglobin > lower limit of normal
  • Platelet count > 100,000/ul

Hepatic

  • Total bilirubin \< 1.5 X ULN
  • AST (SGOT) \< 1.5 X ULN
  • ALT (SPGT) \< 1.5 X ULN Renal
  • Serum creatinine \< 1.5 X ULN BUN \< 1.5 X ULN

    • Females of childbearing potential must:
  • Have been using adequate contraception (abstinence, IUD, birth control pills or spermicidal gel with diaphragm or condom) since their last menses
  • Have a documented negative urine pregnancy test prior to the first dose of study medication. (Females are not considered to be of childbearing potential if they are at least 1 year post-menopausal or have had a tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy)
  • The effects of DFMO and diclofenac on the developing fetus are unknown. Therefore, all females of childbearing potential and all men capable of fathering a child must agree to use adequate contraception (abstinence, IUD, birth control pills, or spermicidal gel with diaphragm or condom) for the duration of study participation.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Any of the following will render a participant ineligible to participate in this study:

  • Aspirin >100 mg/day
  • Chronic (> 3 times/week for more than a two week period) use of NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors
  • Current use of topical steroids to intended treatment area (forearms)
  • Cryotherapy to intended treatment area (forearms) within the preceding 3 months
  • Use of oral or intravenous corticosteroids for more than 2 consecutive weeks

Any of the following in the 4 weeks prior to randomization:

  • Major surgery for any indication
  • Cytotoxic chemotherapy for any indication (including methotrexate for arthritis)
  • Anti-cancer treatment of any type other than for a stage 0-2 non-melanoma skin cancer
  • Hormonal therapy for cancer prevention ((treatment with finasteride/dutasteride for BPH does not render a participant ineligible.)
  • Radiation therapy

Any of the following in the 6 month prior to randomization to the intended treatment area (forearms):

  • Topical medications for the treatment of actinic keratosis or skin cancer (etretinate, 5-FU, imiquimod, ingenol)
  • Laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, chemical peel and/or electrodissection ± curettage

    • Any family history of Ornithine diaminotransferase deficiency in a first degree relative
    • Any personal history of:
  • Invasive cancer diagnosed or treated within the past 5 years. Participants who have been in remission for >5 years and have not required treatment in the past 5 years may be eligible if a study chair or principal investigator believes there is little to no risk of recurrence.
  • Solid organ or bone marrow transplant
  • Biopsy proven hepatic cirrhosis
  • Keloid formation
  • Photosensitivity disorder
  • Hypersensitivity or adverse reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents
  • Oral DFMO for > 1 month on a prior study
  • Any disease that predisposes to NMSC
  • An immunodeficiency disorder or the use of an immunosuppressive drug

    • Concurrent use of the following medications or treatments:
  • Systemic therapy with psoralens, immunotherapy, or retinoids.
  • Cytotoxic chemotherapy for any reason (including methotrexate for arthritis)
  • Topical or systemic immunosuppressive therapy

    • Females who are pregnant or lactating. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she is participating in this study, she should notify her study physician immediately.
    • Uncontrolled concurrent illness including ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia, psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements or other underlying serious medical condition which, in the investigator's opinion might preclude study participation.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
64 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Diclofenac + DFMO

    Participants in this arm will apply topical diclofenac to bilateral forearms once per day and topical DFMO to bilateral forearms once per day.

    Drug: Solaraze and Vaniqa

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo + Placebo

    Participants in this arm will apply placebo for topical diclofenac to bilateral forearms once per day and placebo for topical DFMO to bilateral forearms once per day.

    Drug: Solaraze and Vaniqa

Interventions

  • DrugSolaraze and Vaniqa

    Solaraze-topical diclofenac 3% and Vaniqa-topical eflornithine hydrochloride Cream, 13.9% applied to bilateral arms for a period of 9 months

    Also known as: Solaraze-topical diclofenac 3% and Vaniqa-topical eflornithine hydrochloride Cream, 13.9%

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Reduction of actinic keratoses

    The purpose of the study is to determine whether participants randomized to a combination of two FDA approved topical medications topical diclofenac and topical DFMO have a significant change in incidence of (≥ 50% change, p ≤ 0.05) non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) than participants randomized to placebo as assessed by clinical and histopathological evaluation.

    Time frame: one year (9 months on active, continuous treatment)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Safety assessment

    Determination of safety of the combination of topical diclofenac and topical DFMO as compared to placebo using the NCI- Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)

    Time frame: one year (9 months on active, continuous treatment)

  2. Biomarker assessment

    To assess the effect of topical diclofenac and topical DFMO on the following biomarkers in biopsied non-sun exposed skin, skin tissue that has chronic sun damage, and in actinic keratosis skin lesions at 0 and 9 months: mRNA expression of Sonic Hedgehog, Hip1, Ptch1, Gli1, Gli2, Gli3, and p53, Prostaglandin E2, Proliferation indices (PCNA, cyclin D1), Apoptosis markers (Tunel staining, Bcl-2, caspase-3), Polyamine concentrations (putrescine, spermidine, spermine)

    Time frame: one year (9 months on active, continuous treatment)

  3. Biomarker assessment of NMSC

    Effect of topical diclofenac and topical DFMO on biomarkers of squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell skin cancer which include mRNA expression of p53,proliferation indices (PCNA, cyclin D1),apoptosis markers (Tunel staining, Bcl-2, caspase-3), andmarkers of epithelial adhesion (E-cadherin)

    Time frame: one year (9 months on active, continuous treatment)

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • Birmingham VA Medical Center
    Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
  • UAB Dermatology
    Birmingham, Alabama 35233, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 17, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04091022
Lead sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Collaborators
National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Responsible party
Craig Elmets (Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 16, 2019
Start date
Jan 18, 2021
Primary completion
Dec 11, 2025
Completion
Dec 11, 2025
Last update
Dec 17, 2025

Study contacts

Craug Elmets, MD
principal investigator · University of Alabama at Birmingham

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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