Researchers have reported results from an international clinical trial assessing alternative treatment options for lentigo maligna – a non-invasive condition that commonly occurs on sun-exposed areas, particularly the face.
While surgical excision remains the standard treatment, surgery is not always feasible due to lesion size, location near vital structures, or patient factors.
Results of the Phase 3 randomized clinical trial, led by Melanoma Institute Australia’s (MIA) Professor Pascale Guitera and Professor Angela Hong, were recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The trial compared the efficacy, safety and patient-reported quality of life of radiotherapy versus imiquimod cream for patients with complex lentigo maligna.
Imiquimod cream is a topical immunotherapy which when applied directly to the skin activates the local immune cells to target and destroy the abnormal cells. Patients apply the cream at home for 12 weeks under the guidance of their clinician, making it an attractive alternative particularly for remote or rural patients.
Radiotherapy is delivered over 4 to 5 weeks as an outpatient in a radiotherapy department.
The trial demonstrated that both radiotherapy and topical imiquimod are effective alternative treatments to surgery, with a 95% response rate at 6 months after treatment in both groups. Both treatment options were well tolerated and did not have any impact on quality of life up to 24-months after treatment.
‘The trial results mean clinicians now have more options to offer truly personalised treatment which is tailored to each patient’s specific needs and circumstances,’ Professor Guitera said.
