Photothermal therapy for BCC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Nanoengineered microneedle arrays for enhanced plasmonic photothermal therapy of basal cell carcinoma
IRAS ID
263505
Contact name
Ryan Donnelly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queens University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 29 days
Research summary
Basal cell cancer (BCC) accounts for 20% of all cancer diagnoses and 70% of skin cancer diagnoses in the UK. The incidence of BCC is rising, increasing by 1/3 between 2000 and 2010. Although not typically life-threatening, BCCs invade through the skin and underlying tissues resulting in pain, ulceration, bleeding,deformity and loss of function. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but due to rising demand on already stretched services waiting times to treatment in the UK are increasing. BCCS can also be treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). This involves the application of a light-sensitive cream several hours before exposing the BCC to light. This is only effective for very thin tumours (up to 2mm recommended by the British Photodermatology Group) as the light does not penetrate deeper into the skin. Recurrence of the BCC is also approximately 10% at one year with this method.
In the current study, we will investigate the ability of an innovative form of photothermal therapy (PTT) to treat BCC. PTT involves the destruction of cancer cells by increasing their temperature. We propose to deliver PTT to BCCs via gold-coated tiny needles (microneedles) applied to the skin surface. We will design and manufacture microneedles informed by the previous extensive experience of our group in this area. We will subsequently assess the safety and efficacy of PTT delivered via these microneedles in a mouse model of BCC. Seperately, we will characterize the ability of laser-heated microneedles to penetrate and controlably heat normal human skin samples, which has been removed from consented patients at the time of routine surgical procedures.Lay summary of study results: The project aimed to develop a novel treatment for a type of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, BCC) based on tiny plastic needles containing microscopic, non-toxic, gold particles. These microneedle systems were designed to be inserted by hand into difficult-to-treat deep BCC tumours. Upon illumination with a special type of infrared light, the gold particles heat up and this heat will diffuse from the tiny needles into the tumour, increasing its temperature enough to kill the cancer cells, but leaving the surrounding normal tissue unharmed. The microneedles containing the gold particles are then removed intact from the skin, leaving nothing behind and the skin heals up without scarring. In this particular study we have shown that the microneedle arrays were successful in inserting into human healthy skin and the temperature of the skin in the area close to the needle tips increased 7-14 oC upon illumination with the previously mentioned infrared light. This temperature increase would theoretically allow selective killing of tumour cells, making these preliminary results very promising for this line of research.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1983
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion