Actinic Keratosis Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to test the use of topical imipramine in combination with topical photodynamic therapy's (PDT) effect on immunosuppression following treatment. PDT is a commonly used treatment in dermatology for patients who have many pre-cancers (actinic keratosis or "AK") on their skin. These are both FDA-approved medications, but this study is evaluating their use in combination, which has not been evaluated in the past. The investigators have been doing studies using mice that suggest imipramine might reduce immune system suppression by PDT thus allowing it to work better. Subjects whose provider has decided that they may benefit from PDT to treat their skin due to many AK precancerous lesions will be recruited for this study. Please note that the PDT itself is not experimental, only the imipramine treatment to the skin. There is a separate informed consent for the PDT. Read Less

This phase IIA study evaluates the effects of calcipotriene plus 5- fluorouracil immunotherapy for skin cancer prevention in organ transplant recipients. Solid organ transplant recipients are at high risk of developing skin cancer. Actinic keratosis (AK), is a premalignant skin lesion that can progress to squamous cell skin cancer. In this study, solid organ transplant recipients with multiple AKs are treated with topical calcipotriene and 5-FU to evaluate how effective this therapy is against AKs and if this could lower their risk of skin cancer. Topical calcipotriene is a form of vitamin D and is used to treat psoriasis. Prior research reported immunomodulatory effects in the skin induced by topical calcipotriene. Topical 5- fluorouracil is a chemotherapy agent and is one of the therapy options for multiple AKs in specific clinical scenarios. Prior research indicates that topical calcipotriene used together with topical 5-FU was more effective in treating multiple AKs than 5-FU alone in individuals with healthy immune system. This study is investigating now if similar beneficial effects can be seen in immunosuppressed individuals who are solid organ transplant recipients. Read Less

The purpose of this study is testing the use of topical Imipramine in combination with topical photodynamic therapy's (PDT) effect on pain following treatment. PDT is a commonly used treatment in dermatology for patients who have many pre-cancers (actinic keratosis-AKs) on their skin. These are both FDA-approved treatments, but this study is evaluating their use in combination, which has not been evaluated in the past. The investigators have been doing studies using animals that suggest that imipramine might make the PDT less painful and might help it work better. In order to participate, the subject and their dermatologist have decided that they would benefit from PDT to treat their skin due to many AK precancerous lesions. Please note that neither PDT nor imipramine are experimental treatments, but treating their skin with imipramine before PDT is a new approach. Read Less