Light-Activated therapy could offer Surgery-Free route for early anal cancer
NCT ID NCT02698293
First seen Aug 04, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase trial is testing whether a light-activated treatment, called photodynamic therapy (PDT), combined with vitamin D3, can safely treat high-grade anal dysplasia and very early anal cancer. Participants receive a photosensitizing drug that makes abnormal cells sensitive to light, then a laser is used to destroy those cells. The study aims to find the safest light dose and will monitor participants for side effects and response over two years.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the photosensitizer ALA (Gliolan) plus vitamin D3 supplementation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a non-surgical treatment option for early anal cancer and precancerous lesions, potentially preserving the anal canal and avoiding surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase, dose-escalation study with a small number of participants. The treatment may cause side effects, and its effectiveness is not yet established.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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