Could a gel replace surgery for face melanoma?
NCT ID NCT02723721
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a gel called Picato (ingenol mebutate) on 20 people with a very early form of melanoma on the face, called lentigo maligna. Participants applied the gel once a day for three days. The goal was to see if the gel could make the cancer disappear completely, offering a non-surgical option for those who can't or don't want surgery. The study was small and exploratory, and the drug has since been taken off the market for safety reasons.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
ingenol mebutate (Picato) gel
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a non-surgical topical option for treating early-stage melanoma on the face, avoiding the need for surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early-phase study with only 20 participants, and the drug was later withdrawn from the market due to safety concerns, so results may not lead to a widely available treatment.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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AP-HP Hopital Avicenne
Bobigny, 93000, France
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AP-HP Hôpital Ambroise Paré
Boulogne-Billancourt, France
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CHRU de Lille
Lille, France
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CHU de Nantes
Nantes, France
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CHU de Nice
Nice, 06000, France
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CHU de Saint Etienne
Saint-Etienne, France
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Hôpital Pontchaillou
Rennes, France
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Hôpital du Morvan
Brest, France