A Phase 2 interventional study of ALA and PDT in Basal Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-01.
Sponsored by Case Comprehensive Cancer Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this study is to better understand the immune response to basal cell carcinoma (BCC) treated with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in order to develop new methods of treating BCC. Previous research suggests that PDT alters the immune response, possibly in a way that could promote better tumor clearance when combined with other treatments. Overall, participation in this study will help the study team better understand the anti-tumor immune response when BCC is treated with PDT.
PDT is a technique that works by combining a photosensitizing topical agent and an intense light to kill tumor cells. PDT is not currently approved for the treatment of BCC by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), although it is approved for that purpose in many European countries.
This is an internally (bilaterally) controlled trial that will enroll 24 participants with biopsy-proven BCC who are planning to undergo tumor removal via Mohs surgery. Within this cohort, one tumor will be PDT-treated and the other left as an untreated control. This study is also a cohort-controlled trial, because discarded tissue from fully de-identified Mohs participants will be analyzed after routine Mohs surgery, in order to establish the baseline variability in tumor-infiltrating immune cell parameters in non-PDT-treated participants.
The objectives of this study are:
To determine the time to maximum expression of immune checkpoint molecules in BCC tumors and peri-tumoral stroma after PDT, as compared to untreated tumors.
To determine the ratio of cytotoxic T cells to regulatory T cells in BCC tumors and peri-tumoral stroma after PDT, as compared to untreated tumors.
To determine whether circulating T-cells, collected from patients' peripheral blood, sampled before and after PDT treatment of a BCC tumor, show a higher proportion of tumor-activated CD8+ T-cells after PDT. The hypothesis is that PDT of the localized tumor will trigger a systemic anti-tumor immune effect.
To determine the rate of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) accumulation and maximal PpIX levels.in tumors To determine the rate of production and maximal levels of singlet oxygen (O2) produced during blue light exposure To assess change in the volume, color, and appearance of tumors at the Mohs surgery visit compared to the PDT visit To assess for distant tumor (abscopal) effects after PDT
364 studies on the registry are indexed under Carcinoma, Basal Cell; 66 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 18 is below the median of 41 across 258 interventional studies indexed under Carcinoma, Basal Cell.
Browse Carcinoma, Basal Cell studies →Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 484 studies on the registry; 59 are open to participants now.
Of its 74 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 45 (61%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria
Each participant will serve as their own control, receiving PDT for one tumor, no PDT for the second tumor (untreated control). Visit 1: * Informed consent * Blood draw * Lesion(s) Photographed * (ALA) applied for4 hours * PpIX measured in lesions (PpIX buildup monitored every 30 minutes over a 4 h period) * PDT with blue light Visit 2 (scheduled for within one of the following time intervals: 1-3 days, 4-7 days, or 8-14 days post-PDT): * Blood draw * Lesion(s) Photographed * Mohs surgery * After procedure, excess frozen BCC tissue will be saved for analysis
Drug: ALA · Procedure: PDT
At first visit, ALA applied to one BCC lesion
Also known as: Levulan
PDT with blue light (for 30 min (\~20 mJ/cm2))
Time to maximum expression of immune checkpoint molecules
Time (days) to maximum expression of immune checkpoint molecules in BCC tumors and peri-tumoral stroma after PDT, as compared to untreated tumors. Data from frozen BCC specimens post-PDT by immunostaining the tumor specimens with antibodies against PD-L1, PD-1, CTLA-4 as well as the newer IC molecules TIGIT, TIM-3, and LAG-3
Time frame: at visit 2 (1-14 days)
Altered expression of immune checkpoint molecules
Altered expression of immune checkpoint molecules in BCC tumor specimens after PDT. Assessed by comparing IC molecule expression in PDT treated and untreated tumors with immunostaining in the tumor specimens with antibodies against PD-L1, PD-1, CTLA-4 as well as the newer IC molecules TIGIT, TIM-3, and LAG-3. (quantifying with immunofluorescence microscope)
Time frame: at visit 2 (1-14 days)
Altered recruitment of different immune cell subtypes in BCC tumor specimens
Determine the ratio of cytotoxic T cells to regulatory T cells in BCC tumors and peri-tumoral stroma after PDT, as compared to untreated tumors. Measured with specific antibodies against the following markers, to determine the qualitative time course of infiltration by each immune cell populations: Neutrophils (Gr1+ or MPO+); Macrophages(F4/80+); MDSCs (CD33, S100A9); cytotoxicT-cells(CD8+); regulatory T-cells(CD4+,FoxP3+,CD25+, CD127-); NK natural killer cells(CD56+CD16+).
Time frame: at visit 2 (1-14 days)
Proportion of tumor-activated CD8+ T-cells after PDT
Difference in CD8 T cells after PDT collected from participants' peripheral blood, sampled before and after PDT treatment of a BCC tumor. This data is derived from patient blood samples. Each patient will have two blood draws: at Visit 1 (before PDT, to establish a baseline) and at Visit 2. We will compare the proportion of CD8 T cells after PDT based on when the participant returns (within the 3 time ranges), and a single value (difference in CD8 T cells, measured before and after PDT) will be reported for that patient.
Time frame: at visit 2 (1-14 days)
Rate of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) accumulation in tumors
Relative rate of PpIX accumulation in tumors assessed via noninvasive measurements of PpIX fluorescence using a dosimeter. PpIX will be measured every 30 minutes during the 4 hour incubation. The purpose is to monitor PDT kinetics. We will measure the level of PpIX at each time point, but the final outcome to report is relative rate of change in fluorescence intensity.
Time frame: Every 30 minutes up to 4 hours
Maximal PpIX levels in tumors
Maximal PpIX levels in tumors, assessed via noninvasive measurements of PpIX fluorescence using a dosimeter
Time frame: Every 30 minutes up to 4 hours
Change in the color of tumors
Change in the color of tumors as reported by the participants at the Mohs surgery visit compared to the PDT visit. Number of participants that report common findings after PDT.
Time frame: at visit 1 (pre PDT) and visit 2 (1-14 days)
Change in the appearance of tumors
Change in the appearance of tumors as reported by the participants at the Mohs surgery visit compared to the PDT visit. Number of participants that report common findings after PDT. Appearance as being the shape, texture and overlying skin changes.
Time frame: at visit 1 (pre PDT) and visit 2 (1-14 days)
Change in the volume of tumors
Change in the volume of tumors at the Mohs surgery visit compared to the PDT visit. Tumor volumes (mm3) will be determined from computerized analysis of 3-D photographs.
Time frame: at visit 1 (pre PDT) and visit 2 (1-14 days)
Distant tumor (abscopal) effects after PDT
Number and type of immune cell present, expression of immune checkpoint molecules, and tumor-activated CD8 T cells present in blood compared to archived samples that did not receive PDT.
Time frame: at visit 2 (1-14 days)
To determine the relationship of PDT with the expression of immune- and cancer-associated RNA molecules
Determine whether PDT is associated with altered expression of immune- and cancer-associated RNA transcripts in BCC using NanoString nCounter.
Time frame: at visit 1 (pre PDT) and visit 2 (1-14 days)
Plan to share: Yes — All IPD that underlie results in publication
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf, Csr
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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