New light therapy could zap skin cancer without surgery
NCT ID NCT03573401
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 3 trial tests whether a gel called Ameluz® combined with a special red light can effectively treat superficial basal cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer. About 187 adults with at least one lesion are enrolled. The main goal is to see if the treated skin cancer clears up both visually and under a microscope 12 weeks after the last treatment session.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ameluz® (BF-200 ALA) and BF-RhodoLED® lamp
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a non-surgical treatment option for superficial basal cell carcinoma, potentially reducing the need for surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 3 trial, but results are not yet published. The treatment may not be more effective than placebo, and side effects like skin reactions are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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187 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2018
- Expected to finish
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Feb 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Willingness and ability to sign the informed consent form and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form. A study-specific informed consent form and a HIPAA form must be obtained in writing for all subjects prior to starting any study procedures. * Men or women ≥18 years of age. * Presence of ≥1 naïve sBCC lesion in the treatment areas face/forehead, bald scalp, extremities and/or neck/trunk, all of which are, according to the clinical judgement of the investigator, likely to be histologically confirmed as sBCCs. Lesions should not be within the embryonic fusion planes (H-zone), especially within 2 cm of the hair zone or on the ears. In case of multiple lesions, one lesion is defined as Main Target Lesion which will be excised at the end of the clinical observation period. Only eligible naïve sBCCs, confirmed by histology taken at screening, are allowed to be included in the study as Main or Additional Target Lesions. Thus, eligible sBCCs must lack any histological evidence of aggressive growth patterns (e.g. severe squamous metaplasia, infiltrative/desmoplastic features or basosquamous features). BCCs assessed as non-naïve (e.g. previously treated or recurrent) or non-eligible by biopsy taken at screening (and in a distance \>5 cm from the next lesion included in the study) should be excised by surgery or removed by cryotherapy in a timely manner. Other treatments for these lesions are not allowed during the study. * The diameter of each eligible lesion should be ≥ 0.6 cm, and the entire treatment field must not exceed \~20 cm². The treatment field is defined as the field to which IMP is applied, usually including the target lesions and margins surrounding the lesions of up to 1 cm. For the Main Target Lesion, the maximal lesion size should be such that surgical excision without a skin transplant is feasible according to the investigator's judgement. * Target BCC lesions must be discrete and located within 1-2 illumination areas (the illumination area is defined by the effective illumination area of the BF-RhodoLED® device with approximately 6 x 16 cm). * Willingness to receive up to 4 PDTs within 3.5 months and excision of the Main Target Lesion either at Visit 5, if clinically cleared, or at the end of the clinical observation period 12 weeks after the start of the last PDT cycle (Visit 8), irrespective of whether the treated Main Target Lesion was clinically cleared or not. * Free of significant physical abnormalities (e.g. tattoos, dermatoses) within the potential treatment field plus a 5 cm radius surrounding the target lesion(s) as they may interfere with examination or final evaluation. * Willingness to stop the use of moisturizers and any other cosmetics within the treatment field plus a 5 cm radius surrounding the target lesion(s) 48 hours prior to an office visit and 48 hours after each PDT session. Sunscreen will be allowed, but should not be applied to the treatment field plus the 5 cm radius surrounding the target lesion(s) within approximately 24 h prior to a clinical visit. * Acceptance to abstain from extensive sunbathing and the use of a solarium during the clinical observation period. Subjects with sunburn within treatment areas cannot be included until fully recovered. * Healthy subjects and subjects with clinically stable medical conditions, including, but not limited to controlled hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, hypercholesterolemia, and osteoarthritis, will be permitted to be included in the study if their medication is not prohibited by this protocol. * Women of childbearing potential are permitted to participate in this study only if they have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and are willing to use a highly effective method of contraception during the clinical observation period of the study. Exclusion Criteria: * History of hypersensitivity to 5-ALA or any ingredient of BF-200 ALA which includes soybean phosphatidylcholine. * Hypersensitivity to porphyrins. * Current treatment with immunosuppression therapy. * Presence of photodermatoses. * Presence of porphyria. * Presence of clinically significant inherited or acquired coagulation defect. * Evidence of clinically significant (CS) unstable medical conditions, such as: * Metastatic tumor or tumor with high probability of metastasis. * Cardiovascular disease class III, IV (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\]). * Immunosuppressive condition. * Hematologic, hepatic, renal, neurologic, or endocrine condition. * Collagen-vascular condition. * Gastrointestinal condition. * Clinically relevant cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, neurologic, endocrine, or other major systemic diseases that complicate implementation of the protocol or interpretation of the study results. * Gorlin Syndrome or Xeroderma pigmentosum. * Presence and/or physical treatment of skin tumors other than (naïve) sBCC (e.g. malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), Bowen's disease, aggressive BCC or nBCC diagnosed at the screening visit by clinical assessment) within a distance of ≤ 5 cm from the nearest target lesion within 4 weeks prior to PDT (Visit 2) until the end of the clinical observation period. However, biopsied lesion(s) that were not confirmed eligible at screening and which are located at a distance of \> 5 cm from any lesion(s) that will be included in the study can be surgically removed. Treatment by PDT or topical medication during the course of the clinical observation period of the study triggers exclusion of the subject. * If lesion(s) are assessed as non-eligible by biopsy during initial screening and these lesions are localized within a distance of 5 cm from an otherwise suitable lesion, this suitable lesion must be excluded from the study. * Αny AK lesions within the treatment field (lesion area including margin of 0.5 to 1.0 cm). * Any topical medical treatment of AK, other non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), or melanoma (except for IMP treatment of the target lesion(s)) starting 12 weeks prior to Visit 2 (PDT-1) and lasting until the end of the clinical observation period. * Any other topical medical treatment of the skin 12 weeks prior to Visit 2 (PDT-1) until the end of the clinical observation period, with the exception of: * Topical treatments with corticosteroids (allowed throughout the clinical observation period of the study). * Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as diclofenac) (allowed throughout the clinical observation period of the study with the restriction of 7 days prior to and 7 days after PDTs). * Start of intake of medication with hypericin or systemically acting drugs with phototoxic or photoallergic potential within 8 weeks prior to screening. * Any of the systemic treatments listed below, within the designated period prior to PDT and during the clinical observation period. * Interferon - 6 weeks * Immunomodulators or immunosuppressive therapies - 12 weeks * Cytotoxic drugs - 6 months * Investigational drugs - 8 weeks * Drugs known to have major organ toxicity - 8 weeks * Corticosteroids (oral or injectable) - 6 weeks * MAL or ALA - 12 weeks * Systemic treatment with NSAIDs is not to be used 7 days prior to and 7 days after PDT. ASA (e.g. Aspirin®) up to 100 mg/ day, ibuprofen up to 200 mg/ day, and acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) is allowed during this period. * Presence of tattoos, skin inflammation, wounds, etc. in the treatment field(s) plus a 5 cm radius surrounding the target lesion(s).
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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
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AboutSkin Research, LLC
Greenwood Village, Colorado, 80111, United States
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Alliance Dermatology & Mohs Center
Phoenix, Arizona, 85032, United States
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Austin Institute for Clinical Research Inc.
Houston, Texas, 77056, United States
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Austin Institute for Clinical Research Inc.
Pflugerville, Texas, 78660, United States
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Clinical Research Center of the Carolinas
Charleston, South Carolina, 29407, United States
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Cosmetic Laser Dermatology
San Diego, California, 92121, United States
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Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
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Dermatology Associates PA of the Palm Beaches
Delray Beach, Florida, 33445, United States
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First OC Dermatology
Fountain Valley, California, 92708, United States
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Henry Ford Health System
Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States
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Jordan Valley Dermatology
West Jordan, Utah, 84088, United States
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Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46260, United States
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Medical Dermatology Specialists
Phoenix, Arizona, 85006, United States
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Rochester Dermatologic Surgery
Victor, New York, 14564, United States
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Skin Search of Rochester, Inc
Rochester, New York, 14623, United States
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The Narrows Institute for Biomedical Research and Education, Inc.
Brooklyn, New York, 11209, United States
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University of Florida Dept of Dermatology
Gainesville, Florida, 32606, United States
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Virginia Clinical Research, Inc.
Norfolk, Virginia, 23502, United States
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