ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT05212246B3CUpdated Nov 2, 2026

Basal Cell Carcinoma Chemoprevention Trial

A Phase 3 interventional study of 5% Imiquimod cream and Placebo Vehicle Control Cream in Basal Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development. Recruiting at 8 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-02.

Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development · Phase 3, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Oct 2026; still recruiting 1 month later.
Updated Nov 2, 2026Now RecruitingSite recruiting status changed+6 moreGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
1,630
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is an intent-to-treat, parallel design, multicenter randomized trial and the primary intervention is a double-blind comparison of imiquimod (IMQ) vs. placebo cream for preventing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin on the face at one year and over 3 years after therapy. Participants will apply the IMQ or placebo cream to the face daily at bedtime for 12 weeks. This study will recruit 1630 Veterans at high risk of BCC from 17 VA medical centers.

Read the detailed description

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in the United States. It afflicts 2 to 3 million Americans each year, more than all non-skin cancers combined. Notably, US active duty military and Veterans are at higher risk for developing BCC, with at least 49,000 Veterans treated for the disease in 2010. BCC usually occurs on the face and hence can result in high morbidity and disfigurement with substantial associated expense both in the overall population (estimated at $3 billion in 2013), and among Veterans (estimated at $86 million in 2012) served by Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Morbidity and disfigurement are particularly important due to their impact on key facial structures (e.g. eyelids, nose, etc.). After BCC diagnosis, subsequent monitoring for BCC (ex. return specialist visits for dermatologic examinations) and treatments following diagnosis (surgeries most commonly, but also radiation therapy or chemotherapy) significantly contribute to healthcare costs. This large incidence, morbidity, and cost could potentially be minimized through preventative measures, but currently there are no treatment options for preventing BCC.

The primary goal of this study is to investigate the efficacy of topical Imiquimod (IMQ) for the prevention of BCC. IMQ, a topical immunostimulatory medication with a very low rate of side effects, is potentially capable of meeting this need. IMQ is already FDA approved as a safe and effective treatment for superficial BCC, as well as for actinic keratosis and nodular BCC. The investigators have reason to suspect that IMQ may also be able to prevent the occurrence of BCC or to destroy clinically-unrecognized precursors of BCC, thereby reducing the risk of BCC development.

CSP #2019 is an intent-to-treat, double-blind, parallel design, multicenter randomized trial of IMQ vs. placebo cream for preventing BCC on the face at one year and over 3 years after therapy. Eight out of 17 participating centers will start recruitment in the first year of the study (Phase 1 centers), with 4 centers randomly assigned to offer daily study treatment reminders via the Annie app and the other 4 centers not offering it. The remaining 9 centers (Phase 2 centers) will start in the second year of the study, with half of the centers randomized to offer daily study treatment reminders via the Annie app and the other half not offering it. Participants in each center will be randomly allocated (1:1) to either topical IMQ or placebo (vehicle control cream). Study participants, staff and study dermatologists will not know which treatment the participant receives. Participants will apply IMQ or placebo cream to the face daily at bedtime for a total of 12 weeks. In-person visits will occur at weeks 6 and 12 during treatment, and at months 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 during active follow-up to assess study outcomes. Full skin exams will be performed and other outcome data collected at every scheduled in-person visit with the exception that only facial skin exams are performed at weeks 6 and 12 visits. Telephone interviews will occur every week through week 13 (other than weeks 6 and 12, due to an in-person visit), as well as at months 9, 15, 21, 27, and 33. Follow-up will include 3 years of active follow-up with participants, followed by 1 year of passive follow-up during which study outcome information will only be captured from medical records.

02

Conditions studied

  • Basal Cell Carcinoma

Keywords

  • Basal Cell Carcinoma
  • chemoprevention
  • imiquimod
  • facial skin cancer
  • skin cancer prevention
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • keratinocyte carcinoma
  • actinic keratosis
  • quality of life
  • side effects
  • treatment compliance
  • automated text messaging
  • cost comparison and cost effectiveness
  • implementation science
03

In context

Carcinoma, Basal Cell

389 studies on the registry are indexed under Carcinoma, Basal Cell; 69 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 1,630 is above the median of 50 across 272 interventional studies indexed under Carcinoma, Basal Cell.

Browse Carcinoma, Basal Cell studies →

Lead sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development is the lead sponsor of 1,771 studies on the registry; 392 are open to participants now.

Of its 213 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 185 (87%) have results posted.

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

04

Who can participate

The criteria were revised on the registry on Nov 2, 2026. See what changed

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Veteran
  • 2 (or more) qualifying basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions in the prior 5 years, with at least one located on the face, neck, ears, or scalp "Qualifying lesions are those that meet the two inclusion criterion bullet points below, and none of the exclusion criteria listed in "B"
  • Qualifying lesions not in a field of prior radiation therapy
  • Qualifying lesions not a recurrence after treatment, but the original lesion can qualify whether it recurred or not

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Actinic Keratosis (AK) or Keratinocyte Carcinoma (KC) field therapy on the face (5-FU cream, imiquimod (IMQ), diclofenac gel, chemical peel, or photodynamic therapy) for BCC treatment on the face in the last 2 months because it can cause inflammation that may interfere with the imiquimod (IMQ) treatment. After 2 months, these patients can be included
  • imiquimod (IMQ) therapy on the face in the past year, although such therapy in the more distant past is not an exclusion
  • Suspicious skin lesions suggestive of any type of skin cancer present on the face at the initial exam conducted for the study must be removed and have another skin exam to confirm the facial skin cancer is cleared for 1 month prior to randomization so that the investigators can be confident that skin cancer lesions that arise during the trial are new
  • Currently receiving or received in the past two months: , hedgehog pathway inhibitor, or oral capecitabine
  • History of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma within the past year, but low-grade prostate cancer, patch stage CTCL, breast cancer, and history of solid hematologic cancer deemed to be in remission will be included
  • Genetic disorder associated with very high basal cell skin cancer risk (i.e., basal cell nevus syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum) because prevention efforts with imiquimod (IMQ) may have dramatically different efficacy in these patients compared to the general high-risk population
  • Solid organ or bone marrow transplant recipient such as renal, hepatic, or cardiac transplant because these patients are at increased risk of KC (much greater risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than basal cell carcinoma (BCC)) and the associated immunodeficiency may affect the effectiveness of imiquimod (IMQ)
  • Radiation therapy to the face
  • Known allergy to IMQ or cream vehicle
  • Woman currently pregnant or breast feeding
  • Woman of unwilling to use
  • Judged by investigator to have a very high mortality risk within a year due to co-morbid illness
  • Judged by investigator to be unlikely to comply with protocol requirements
  • Judged by investigator not to be competent to provide
  • Unable to communicate in English
  • Enrolled in another therapeutic interventional trial
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(4)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

PD-1, PD-L1 and checkpoint inhibitors

PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 are proteins that act as brakes on the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, block them so the immune system can attack a cancer.

PD-L1 can also be measured in a tumour sample. Some scores count stained tumour cells only (TPS); others also count certain immune cells (CPS). The study names the score and the minimum it uses.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
1,630 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    5% Imiquimod Cream

    Topical 5% Imiquimod cream will be applied once daily to the face in a thin layer for 12 weeks. Three packets of cream will be defined as one dose or application. The cream should be applied to the face prior to normal sleeping hours (it is readily absorbed) and left on the skin for 6-10 hours (i.e. overnight). Rest periods will be allowed if bothersome side effects occur.

    Drug: 5% Imiquimod cream

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo Vehicle Control Cream

    The placebo vehicle control cream will be a virtually identical cream (to the Imiquimod cream) that contains no Imiquimod. This cream will be applied once daily to the face in a thin layer for 12 weeks. Three packets of cream will be defined as one dose or application. The cream should be applied to the face prior to normal sleeping hours (it is readily absorbed) and left on the skin for 6-10 hours (i.e. overnight). Rest periods will be allowed if bothersome side effects occur.

    Drug: Placebo Vehicle Control Cream

Interventions

  • Topical 5% Imiquimod cream will be applied once daily to the face in a thin layer for 12 weeks. Three packets of cream will be defined as one dose or application. The cream should be applied to the face prior to normal sleeping hours (it is readily absorbed) and left on the skin for 6-10 hours (i.e. overnight). Rest periods will be allowed if bothersome side effects occur.

    Also known as: IMQ

  • DrugPlacebo Vehicle Control Cream

    The placebo vehicle control cream will be a virtually identical cream (to the Imiquimod cream) that contains no Imiquimod. This cream will be applied once daily to the face in a thin layer for 12 weeks. Three packets of cream will be defined as one dose or application. The cream should be applied to the face prior to normal sleeping hours (it is readily absorbed) and left on the skin for 6-10 hours (i.e. overnight). Rest periods will be allowed if bothersome side effects occur.

    Also known as: Placebo

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Proportion of participants with a new Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) on the face at 1 year

    Skin exams will occur at baseline and at 6-month intervals after study randomization. Diagnosis of a new BCC will be ascertained by a biopsy under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, as is the standard of care. Every biopsy performed on the face of a participant during the trial will be processed per standard clinical operating procedures, as determined by their blinded clinician for the purposes of patient management. The biopsy will be sent for reading by a blinded central dermatopathologist with known high reliability (intra-rater and inter-rater with two other board-certified dermatopathologists) for diagnosing BCC. This central dermatopathologist diagnosis will be used for study purposes. Skin cancers diagnosed outside of the VA, and associated surgeries, will be systematically sought in all participants by participant interview and review of medical records to ensure that the outcome measure is complete.

    Time frame: 1 year from the time of randomization

  2. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) free time to a new BCC on the face over 3 years

    Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) free time to a new BCC on the face over 3 years is defined as the time in years from treatment randomization to the first occurrence of a new BCC on the face. Participants who do not develop a new BCC on the face by 3 years will be considered censored observations. Skin exams will occur at baseline and at 6-month intervals after study randomization.

    Time frame: 3 years from the time of randomization

Secondary outcomes

  1. Proportion of participants with a new Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) on the face at 1 year

    Diagnosis of a new SCC will be ascertained by a biopsy under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, as is the standard of care. Every biopsy performed on the face of a participant during the trial will be processed per standard clinical operating procedures, as determined by their blinded clinician for the purposes of patient management, and the biopsy will also be sent for reading by a blinded central dermatopathologist with known high reliability (intra-rater and inter-rater with two other board-certified dermatopathologists) for diagnosing SCC. This central dermatopathologist diagnosis will be used for study purposes. Skin cancers diagnosed outside of the VA, and associated surgeries, will be systematically sought in all participants by participant interview and review of medical records to ensure that the outcome measure is complete.

    Time frame: 1 year from the time of randomization

  2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) free time to a new SCC on the face over 3 years

    Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) free time to a new SCC on the face over 3 years is defined as the time in years from treatment randomization to the first occurrence of a new SCC on the face. Participants who do not develop a new SCC on the face by 3 years will be considered censored observations.

    Time frame: 3 years from the time of randomization

  3. Total Actinic Keratosis (AK) reduction on the face over time during treatment and active follow-up

    AK reduction persistence over time will be assessed using total AK counts (on the face only) evaluated at in-person visits at weeks 6 and 12 and months 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36, and will be analyzed as a repeated measures outcome.

    Time frame: 3 years from the time of randomization

  4. Actinic Keratosis (AK) reduction in each Olsen grade on the face over time during treatment and active follow-up

    AK reduction in each Olsen grade on the face over time will be assessed using AK counts (on the face only) in each Olsen grade evaluated at in-person visits at weeks 6 and 12 and months 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36, and will be analyzed as a repeated measures outcome.

    Time frame: 3 year from the time of randomization

  5. Proportion of participants with any facial Actinic Keratosis (AK) biopsies or surgical removal on the face at 1 year

    The proportion of participants with any facial Actinic Keratosis (AK) biopsies or surgical removal on the face from the start of study treatment up to 1 year. Data collection regarding AK biopsies on the face will be assessed at weeks 6 and 12 during treatment, and months 6, 9, and 12 during active follow-up.

    Time frame: 1 year from the time of randomization

  6. Proportion of participants with a cheek or forehead primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) versus other areas of the face at 1 year

    Facial regions will be dichotomized to forehead and cheeks versus other areas include the ear, eye (including eyebrows), and nose areas. The investigators will characterize subsites where BCC occurs and assess the effect of IMQ on preventing BCC on the forehead and cheek areas compared to elsewhere on the face.

    Time frame: 1 year from the time of randomization

  7. Proportion of participants with a cheek or forehead primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) versus other areas of the face at 3 years

    Facial regions will be dichotomized to forehead and cheeks versus other areas include the ear, eye (including eyebrows), and nose areas. The investigators will characterize subsites where BCC occurs and assess the effect of IMQ on preventing BCC on the forehead and cheek areas compared to elsewhere on the face.

    Time frame: 3 years from the time of randomization

  8. Proportion of participants with a facial primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) of aggressive histologic subtypes at 1 year

    Higher risk histologic subtypes include infiltrative/morpheaform and nodular/infiltrative BCCs.

    Time frame: 1 year from the time of randomization

  9. Proportion of participants with a facial primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) of aggressive histologic subtypes at 3 years

    Higher risk histologic subtypes include infiltrative/morpheaform and nodular/infiltrative BCCs.

    Time frame: 3 years from the time of randomization

  10. Proportion of participants who have experienced a facial primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) of high severity at 1 year

    The proportion of participants who have experienced a facial primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) of high severity at 1 year will be determined. To be considered a high severity (i.e. high morbidity) BCC, the tumor must have at least moderate severity and of high severity one of the following features: i.AJCC stage 3 or 4 BCC ii.BCC requiring radiation iii.BCC requiring multidisciplinary surgery (i.e. oculoplastics, ENT, or neurosurgery, with or without concomitant Mohs micrographic surgery) iv.BCC requiring systemic treatment

    Time frame: 1 year from the time of randomization

  11. Proportion of participants who have experienced a facial primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) of high severity at 3 years

    The proportion of participants who have experienced a high severity Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) at 3 years will be determined. To be considered a high severity (i.e. high morbidity) BCC, the tumor must have at least one of the following features: i.AJCC stage 3 or 4 BCC ii.BCC requiring radiation iii.BCC requiring multidisciplinary surgery (i.e. oculoplastics, ENT, or neurosurgery, with or without concomitant Mohs micrographic surgery) iv.BCC requiring systemic treatment

    Time frame: 3 years from the time of randomization

  12. Proportion of participants who have experienced a high or moderate severity facial primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) at 1 year

    The proportion of participants who have experienced a high or moderate severity Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) at 1 year will be determined. To be considered a high severity (i.e. high morbidity) BCC, the tumor must have at least one of the following features: i.AJCC stage 3 or 4 BCC ii.BCC requiring radiation iii.BCC requiring multidisciplinary surgery (i.e. oculoplastics, ENT, or neurosurgery, with or without concomitant Mohs micrographic surgery) iv.BCC requiring systemic treatment To be considered a moderate severity (i.e. moderate morbidity) BCC, the tumor must require surgical removal, which may include removal with Mohs micrographic surgery, but not meet the criteria for high severity. To be included in mild severity/morbidity, the tumor must not require surgical intervention.

    Time frame: 1 year from the time of randomization

  13. Proportion of participants who have experienced a high or moderate severity facial primary Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) at 3 years

    The proportion of participants who have experienced a high or moderate severity Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) at 3 years will be determined. To be considered a high severity (i.e. high morbidity) BCC, the tumor must have at least one of the following features: i.AJCC stage 3 or 4 BCC ii.BCC requiring radiation iii.BCC requiring multidisciplinary surgery (i.e. oculoplastics, ENT, or neurosurgery, with or without concomitant Mohs micrographic surgery) iv.BCC requiring systemic treatment To be considered a moderate severity (i.e. moderate morbidity) BCC, the tumor must require surgical removal, which may include removal with Mohs micrographic surgery, but not meet the criteria for high severity. To be included in mild severity/morbidity, the tumor must not require surgical intervention.

    Time frame: 3 years from the time of randomization

  14. Proportion of participants with any side effect of treatment during the treatment phase (weeks 1-13)

    The proportion of participants with any side effect of treatment during the 12 weeks of the active treatment period or the week following the end of active treatment (week 13).

    Time frame: Weeks 1-13 after randomization

  15. Proportion of participants not tolerating the side effects during the treatment phase

    Tolerability of treatment side effects will be assessed at the end of the treatment (week 12) and it will be a binary response (yes/no).

    Time frame: Weeks 12 after randomization

  16. Facial photograph toxicity scores at week 6 and week 12

    Photographs of the face will be taken at weeks 6 and 12 in-person visits and translated into a numerical score on the toxicity scale established and used in CSP #562 - the VA Keratinocyte Carcinoma Chemoprevention (VAKCC) Trial.

    Time frame: Weeks 6 and 12 after randomization

  17. Skindex-16 quality of life scores at 12 weeks

    The Skindex-16 is a 16-item scale to measure the effects of skin disease on a patient's quality of life. All item responses are transformed to a linear scale of 100, varying from 0 (no effect) to 100 (effect experienced all the time). Skindex scores are reported as three scale scores corresponding to the following three domains or subscales: Symptom, Emotional, Functional. A scale score is the average of a patient's responses to items in a given domain. Higher domain scale scores represent worse quality of life.

    Time frame: Twelve weeks after randomization

  18. Skindex-16 quality of life scores at 6 months

    The Skindex-16 is a 16-item scale to measure the effects of skin disease on a patient's quality of life. All item responses are transformed to a linear scale of 100, varying from 0 (no effect) to 100 (effect experienced all the time). Skindex scores are reported as three scale scores corresponding to the following three domains or subscales: Symptom, Emotional, Functional. A scale score is the average of a patient's responses to items in a given domain. Higher domain scale scores represent worse quality of life.

    Time frame: Six months after randomization

  19. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) Physical Well-being score at 12 weeks

    The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) is a 27-item questionnaire designed to measure four domains of HRQOL in cancer patients: Physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being. Only the 7-item Physical Well-being subscale is being used in this study. The Physical Well-being score range is 0-28, and the higher score, the better the quality of life.

    Time frame: Twelve weeks after randomization

  20. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) Physical Well-being score at 6 months

    The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) is a 27-item questionnaire designed to measure four domains of HRQOL in cancer patients: Physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being. Only the 7-item Physical Well-being subscale is being used in this study. The Physical Well-being score range is 0-28, and the higher score, the better the quality of life.

    Time frame: Six months after randomization

  21. Proportion of participants indicating acceptability of the study treatment cream at 12 weeks

    The proportion of participants indicating acceptability of their assigned treatment cream at 12 weeks will be summarized by treatment group. Acceptability will be assessed by asking participants at 12 weeks whether they would be willing to use the cream they received again in the future if the cream is determined to be effective in reducing their risk of developing future skin cancer on the face.

    Time frame: Twelve weeks after randomization

  22. Study treatment compliance status during the 12 weeks of active treatment by treatment group

    Medication compliance will be defined as a binary outcome (\>=80% compliance vs \<80% compliance). Individuals applying 67 or more of the expect 84 doses (67/84=80% with rounding) will be considered \>=80% medication compliant, while those applying \<67 doses will be considered \<80% compliant.

    Time frame: Twelve weeks after randomization

  23. Study treatment compliance status during the 12 weeks of active treatment by study site Annie application status

    Study treatment compliance status will be defined as a binary outcome (\>=80% compliance vs \<80% compliance). Individuals applying 67 or more of the expect 84 doses (67/84=80% with rounding) will be considered \>=80% medication compliant, while those applying \<67 doses will be considered \<80% compliant. The US Department of Veterans Affairs has developed an automated text message service application called Annie that can send automated treatment reminders to Veterans if they register/enroll in Annie and consent to receive Annie text messages. Nine of the 17 study sites will be randomly selected to offer the Annie application to their study participants. The medication compliance status during the 12 weeks of active treatment (as defined above) will be presented for the 9 study sites offering the Annie app and the 8 sites not offering it (irrespective of study treatment group).

    Time frame: Twelve weeks after randomization

  24. Study treatment compliance status during the 12 weeks of active treatment by Annie application status only at sites offering Annie

    Study treatment compliance status will be defined as a binary outcome (\>=80% compliance vs \<80% compliance). Individuals applying 67 or more of the expect 84 doses (67/84=80% with rounding) will be considered \>=80% medication compliant, while those applying \<67 doses will be considered \<80% compliant. Veterans Affairs has developed an application called Annie that can send text treatment reminders to Veterans if they enroll in Annie. Nine of the 17 sites will be randomly selected to offer Annie to their participants. Annie use is voluntary and not required for participation. Among the sites offering Annie, the investigators will ask participants whether they received any treatment reminders via Annie \& a categorical Annie use variable will be created. Only for the 9 sites offering Annie, the medication compliance status (as defined above) will be presented for the participants that used Annie and those that didn't.

    Time frame: Twelve weeks after randomization

  25. Proportion of participants with a new Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) on the face at 1 year by study treatment compliance status

    Skin exams will occur at baseline \& 6 months after randomization. Diagnosis of a new facial BCC will be via biopsy under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting (standard of care). Every facial biopsy will be processed per standard operating procedures, as determined by the blinded clinician for the purposes of patient management. Biopsies will be read by blinded central dermatopathologist with known high reliability (intra-rater \& inter-rater with 2 board-certified dermatopathologists) for diagnosing BCC. Central dermatopathologist diagnosis will be used for study purposes. BCC diagnosed outside VA \& surgeries will be collected by participant interview and review of medical records to ensure the outcome measure is complete. Medication compliance will be defined as a binary outcome (\>=80% vs \<80%). Individuals applying 67 or more of the expect 84 doses (67/84=80% with rounding) will be considered \>=80% compliant, while those applying \<67 doses will be considered \<80% compliant.

    Time frame: One year after randomization

  26. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) free time to a new BCC on the face over 3 years by study treatment compliance status

    Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) free time to a new BCC on the face over 3 years is defined as the time in years from treatment randomization to the first occurrence of a new BCC on the face. Participants who do not develop a new BCC on the face by 3 years will be considered censored observations. Skin exams will occur at baseline and at 6-month intervals after study randomization. Medication compliance status will be defined as a binary outcome (\>=80% compliance vs \<80% compliance). Individuals applying 67 or more of the expect 84 doses (67/84=80% with rounding) will be considered \>=80% medication compliant, while those applying \<67 doses will be considered \<80% compliant.

    Time frame: Three years from the time of randomization

07

Study locations

7 of 8 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — After the main results of this study have been published, de-identified data from the study may be shared with other VA investigators, other Federal health agencies, or academic institutions for additional analyses provided this use has been approved by CSP, the appropriate VA oversight committee(s), and there is an agreement in place that defines the limits of this use. With the participant's approval and as approved by local Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), deidentified study data will be moved into a data repository where other CSP studies are maintained after the study has ended. This data could be used for future research on the conditions, characteristics, complications, and treatments covered in the proposed work.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan

Time frame: 10 years after primary publication

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

3 registry updates since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedDate before it movedWhere the date was before it moved

Started Oct 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Oct 2032, 72 months after the start.

Start moved twice since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026: Sep 2026 → Oct 2026, last on Oct 19, 2026.

Primary completion moved twice since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026: Sep 2032 → Oct 2032, last on Oct 19, 2026.

Completion moved twice since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026: Sep 2032 → Oct 2032, last on Oct 19, 2026.

Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jan 14, 2022
First posted
Jan 28, 2022
StartActual
Oct 6, 2026was Sep 2026
Primary completionEst.
Oct 6, 2032was Sep 2032
CompletionEst.
Oct 6, 2032was Sep 2032
Last update
Nov 2, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
Status
Not yet recruiting→Recruiting
changed Oct 19, 2026
Sites
7 sites added. 2 sites changed recruiting status (1 now not yet recruiting, 1 now recruiting)
Show 2 sites
  • Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI · Providence, United Statesno status→Not yet recruiting
  • VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA · Long Beach, United StatesNot yet recruiting→Recruiting
Show 7 added (7 United States)
  • VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA · Long Beach, United States
  • VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA · San Diego, United States
  • Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL · Bay Pines, United States
  • Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN · Minneapolis, United States
  • Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC · Durham, United States
  • VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT · Salt Lake City, United States
  • Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI · Milwaukee, United States
across 2 updates, Oct 19, 2026 – Nov 2, 2026
Start date
Sep 21, 2026→Oct 6, 2026 (actual)
moved 2 times, Sep 29, 2026 – Oct 19, 2026
Primary completion
Sep 21, 2032→Oct 6, 2032
moved 2 times, Sep 29, 2026 – Oct 19, 2026
Study completion
Sep 21, 2032→Oct 6, 2032
moved 2 times, Sep 29, 2026 – Oct 19, 2026
Eligibility
1 inclusion criterion edited; 4 exclusion criteria edited
What changed in the criteria
Inclusion criteria
  • Edited2 (or more) qualifying basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions in the prior 5 years, with at least one located on the face, neck, ears, or scalp. "Qualifying lesions are those that meet the two inclusion criterion bullet points below, and none of the exclusion criteria listed in "B."
Exclusion criteria
  • EditedActinic Keratosis (AK) or Keratinocyte Carcinoma (KC) field therapy on the face (5-FU cream, imiquimod (IMQ), diclofenac gel, chemical peel, or photodynamic therapy) for BCC treatment on the face in the last 2 months because it can cause inflammation that may interfere with the imiquimod (IMQ) treatment. After 2 months, these patients can be included.
  • Editedimiquimod (IMQ) therapy on the face in the past year, although such therapy in the more distant past is not an exclusion
  • EditedGenetic disorder associated with very high basal cell skin cancer risk (i.e., basal cell nevus syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum) because prevention efforts with imiquimod (IMQ) may have dramatically different efficacy in these patients compared to the general high-risk population
  • EditedSolid organ or bone marrow transplant recipient such as renal, hepatic, or cardiac transplant because these patients are at increased risk of KC (much greater risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than basal cell carcinoma (BCC)) and the associated immunodeficiency may affect the effectiveness of imiquimod (IMQ)
Nov 2, 2026
Contact
Study contact changed: K•••@va.gov · •••0380→B•••@va.gov · •••7100; added A•••@va.gov · •••7100. See the current contact
Oct 19, 2026
Site contacts
Changed at 1 site. See the sites
Show the site
  • Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI · Providence, United StatesContact added M•••@va.gov · •••7100
Oct 19, 2026
Show all 3 updates
  1. Nov 2, 2026
    VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA is now Recruiting
    Eligibility 1 inclusion criterion edited; 4 exclusion criteria edited
    What changed in the criteria
    Inclusion criteria
    • Edited2 (or more) qualifying basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions in the prior 5 years, with at least one located on the face, neck, ears, or scalp. "Qualifying lesions are those that meet the two inclusion criterion bullet points below, and none of the exclusion criteria listed in "B."
    Exclusion criteria
    • EditedActinic Keratosis (AK) or Keratinocyte Carcinoma (KC) field therapy on the face (5-FU cream, imiquimod (IMQ), diclofenac gel, chemical peel, or photodynamic therapy) for BCC treatment on the face in the last 2 months because it can cause inflammation that may interfere with the imiquimod (IMQ) treatment. After 2 months, these patients can be included.
    • Editedimiquimod (IMQ) therapy on the face in the past year, although such therapy in the more distant past is not an exclusion
    • EditedGenetic disorder associated with very high basal cell skin cancer risk (i.e., basal cell nevus syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum) because prevention efforts with imiquimod (IMQ) may have dramatically different efficacy in these patients compared to the general high-risk population
    • EditedSolid organ or bone marrow transplant recipient such as renal, hepatic, or cardiac transplant because these patients are at increased risk of KC (much greater risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than basal cell carcinoma (BCC)) and the associated immunodeficiency may affect the effectiveness of imiquimod (IMQ)
  2. Oct 19, 2026
    Not yet recruiting→Recruiting
    7 sites added. Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI is now Not yet recruiting
    Show 7 added (7 United States)
    • VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA · Long Beach, United States
    • VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA · San Diego, United States
    • Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL · Bay Pines, United States
    • Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN · Minneapolis, United States
    • Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC · Durham, United States
    • VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT · Salt Lake City, United States
    • Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI · Milwaukee, United States
    Start date Oct 5, 2026→Oct 6, 2026 (now actual)
    Primary completion Oct 5, 2032→Oct 6, 2032
    Study completion Oct 5, 2032→Oct 6, 2032
    Contact Study contact changed: K•••@va.gov · •••0380→B•••@va.gov · •••7100; added A•••@va.gov · •••7100. See the current contact
    Site contacts Changed at 1 site. See the sites
    Show the site
    • Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI · Providence, United StatesContact added M•••@va.gov · •••7100
    + 3 other changes: identifiers, verification date and description
  3. Sep 29, 2026
    Start date Sep 21, 2026→Oct 5, 2026
    Primary completion Sep 21, 2032→Oct 5, 2032
    Study completion Sep 21, 2032→Oct 5, 2032
    + 2 other changes: verification date and description

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05212246
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 28, 2022
Start date
Oct 6, 2026
Primary completion
Oct 6, 2032 (estimated)
Completion
Oct 6, 2032 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 2, 2026

Study contacts

Brynn Chouinard, BA
Contact
Brynn.chouinard@va.gov
(401) 273-7100 ext. 14004
Abrar Qureshi, MD
Contact
Abrar.qureshi@va.gov
(401) 273-7100
Martin A. Weinstock, MD
study chair · Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI

Oversight

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

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Studies of the drug tested here: Imiquimod

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