APPENDICES - NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme
APPENDICES - NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme
APPENDICES - NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme
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198<br />
Appendix 13<br />
Study details Population details Treatment details Results Interpretation<br />
Authors’ conclusions<br />
MAL–PDT showed<br />
inferior efficacy for<br />
treatment of non-face/<br />
scalp AK compared with<br />
cryotherapy. However,<br />
both treatments showed<br />
high efficacy, and MAL–<br />
PDT conveyed the<br />
advantages of better<br />
cosmesis and higher<br />
patient preference<br />
Brief study appraisal<br />
The study was quite<br />
well conducted, but it<br />
was open in design and<br />
therefore there was<br />
potential for investigator/<br />
patient bias. The<br />
possibility of institutional<br />
differences and/or<br />
protocol deviation (24<br />
centres in four countries)<br />
affecting the reliability<br />
of results was illustrated<br />
by the wide variation of<br />
freeze–thaw timings used<br />
for cryotherapy<br />
Morbidity At wk 24 the mean reduction in lesion count from<br />
baseline was 78% for MAL–PDT and 88% for cryotherapy<br />
(per-protocol population) (p = 0.002), 95% CI of the bilateral<br />
difference (MAL–PDT/cryotherapy) was between –16.6% and<br />
3.9%. ITT (last observation carried forward) analysis confirmed<br />
this (75% reduction with MAL–PDT vs 87% with cryotherapy,<br />
p < 0.001). 76% (455) of lesions were cured with MAL–PDT<br />
vs 88% (490) with cryotherapy. The difference was similar for<br />
mild- and moderate-thickness lesions<br />
QoL and return to normal activity Investigator-assessed<br />
cosmetic outcome was significantly better for MAL–PDT than<br />
cryotherapy (p < 0.001). In the MAL–PDT group, 79% of lesions<br />
had an excellent cosmetic outcome, 19% good, 3% fair and 0%<br />
poor (compared with 56% excellent, 36% good, 8% fair and<br />
0.9% poor with cryotherapy). After 24 wk, 50% of patients<br />
preferred MAL–PDT in terms of cosmetic outcome compared<br />
with 22% for cryotherapy (p < 0.001). 28% had no preference<br />
(ITT analysis). Patients preferred MAL–PDT to cryotherapy for<br />
all questions in the patient questionnaire (between 12% and<br />
58% of difference). The differences were marked apart from<br />
effectiveness of treatment (39% favoured MAL–PDT vs 26%<br />
cryotherapy, not significant). Patients preferred MAL–PDT in<br />
terms of comfort (60% vs 10%, p < 0.001), procedure (49%<br />
vs 28%, p = 0.05) and healing (64% vs 6%, p < 0.001). Overall<br />
patient satisfaction favoured MAL–PDT (49% vs 20%, p < 0.001).<br />
If re-treatment was required 59% would prefer MAL–PDT over<br />
cryotherapy (25%, p < 0.001)<br />
AEs There were 63% patients with 99 AEs with cryotherapy<br />
vs 45% patients with 67 AEs with MAL–PDT. Most were<br />
dermatological and related to treatment. The most commonly<br />
reported AE for MAL–PDT was photosensitivity reaction<br />
(43% of patients with 63 AEs) and cold exposure injury for<br />
cryotherapy (62% patients with 95 AEs). Most were of mild<br />
intensity. Two patients in the cryotherapy group reported<br />
severe cold exposure injury<br />
Trial treatments MAL–PDT<br />
vs cryotherapy (withinparticipant<br />
comparison)<br />
Intervention MAL–PDT:<br />
After scraping of lesions,<br />
a 1-mm layer of 160-mg/g<br />
MAL cream was applied to<br />
each lesion (including 5 mm<br />
of surrounding tissue) for<br />
3 hr (under occlusion). After<br />
saline cleansing, a standard<br />
LED lamp illuminated lesions<br />
with narrow band red<br />
light (average 630 nm, dose<br />
37 J/cm2 , mean time 8 min<br />
36 s). Lesions with a non-CR<br />
were re-treated after 12 wk<br />
Comparator Cryotherapy:<br />
Double freeze–thaw<br />
cryotherapy using liquid<br />
nitrogen spray applied with<br />
a 1- to 2-mm frozen rim<br />
outside the lesion outline.<br />
Timing of freeze–thaw<br />
application was as per usual<br />
practice of each centre (mean<br />
time 20 s ± 14 s)<br />
Treatment intention<br />
Curative<br />
Type(s) of lesion<br />
and histology Nonhyperkeratotic<br />
AK<br />
Main eligibility criteria<br />
Males and non-pregnant<br />
women aged 18 or over,<br />
with a clinical diagnosis of<br />
non-hyperkeratotic AK, of<br />
mild or moderate thickness,<br />
on locations other than the<br />
face or scalp, were eligible<br />
for inclusion. Patients had to<br />
have at least four comparable<br />
symmetrical AKs, of similar<br />
severity and total number<br />
on both sides of the body.<br />
Further eligibility criteria<br />
were reported<br />
Patient characteristics<br />
% Male: 65<br />
Age range: 38–89 yr<br />
Mean age: 68.9 yr<br />
Cancer stage: Grade I, 687;<br />
grade II, 656<br />
Patients had (a mean of)<br />
six lesions per side. Further<br />
patient characteristics were<br />
reported<br />
Concomitant treatment<br />
Not stated<br />
Authors Kaufmann et<br />
al. (2008) 46<br />
Data source Full<br />
published paper<br />
Countries Australia,<br />
Belgium, Germany, UK<br />
Language English<br />
Study design RCT<br />
No. of participants<br />
Total: 121 (1343<br />
lesions)<br />
Intervention: 121 (691<br />
lesions)<br />
Comparator: 121 (652<br />
lesions)<br />
No. of recruiting<br />
centres 24<br />
Follow-up period<br />
and frequency FU<br />
at wk 12 and 24.<br />
Additional telephone<br />
calls were made at wk<br />
1 and 13 when patients<br />
were re-treated