Cyclic indoor daylight photodynamic therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cyclic indoor daylight photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT) in high-risk organ transplant recipients for the prevention of actinic keratosis and non-melanoma skin cancers
IRAS ID
357561
Contact name
Sumir Chawla
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) face a significantly higher risk of developing certain skin cancers, particularly non-melanoma skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). This increased risk can be due to the long-term use of medications that suppress the immune system, which are necessary to prevent organ rejection. Over time, these patients are more likely to develop precancerous skin lesions, such as actinic keratosis (AK), which can progress to more serious cancers if not treated early.
Current treatments for these skin conditions, including freezing techniques, topical creams, and surgery, have limitations, especially in patients with large areas of affected skin or need for repeated treatments. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an established treatment that uses a special cream activated by light to target and destroy abnormal skin cells. It has shown promise in treating and preventing skin cancers in OTRs, but traditional PDT can be painful, and the less painful daylight PDT be limited by weather and external factors.
This study will explore the use of indoor daylight photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT), which simulates sunlight in a controlled environment, as a way to prevent the development of AK and skin cancers in high-risk OTR patients. The treatment is expected to be more comfortable for patients and easier to administer year-round. By investigating the safety and effectiveness of cyclic DL-PDT, the study aims to find a better way to prevent skin cancers in this vulnerable group of patients, potentially improving their long-term outcomes.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0515
Date of REC Opinion
1 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion