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Effects of Topical Diclofenac on Tumor Metabolism

Prospective, Controlled and Monocentric Study to Evaluate the Effects of Topical 3% Diclofenac in 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid Gel on Tumor Metabolism in the Treatment of Actinic Keratoses in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01935531
Enrollment
38
Registered
2013-09-05
Start date
2013-06-30
Completion date
2016-03-31
Last updated
2016-03-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Actinic Keratoses

Keywords

actinic keratoses, tumor metabolism, glycolysis, diclofenac, warburg effect

Brief summary

The rationale of this study is to investigate the effects of topical diclofenac on tumor metabolism in the treatment of actinic keratoses in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Study hypothesis is that topical diclofenac lowers lactate level in skin biopsies of actinic keratoses. Planned number of patients is 38. This study is a monocenter study investigating the effects of 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel on tumor metabolism in the treatment of actinic keratoses. Treatment duration is 3 months. Skin biopsies will be obtained before treatment, at the end of the treatment and four weeks after the treatment. Control biopsies at visit 1 and 3 are performed in healthy, sun damaged and untreated skin. Evaluation of efficacy will be performed at the end of the treatment and four weeks after the treatment. Duration of treatment is 3 months (±4 weeks). Approximately 0,5g Solaraze® 3% gel is applied on a 5cm x 5cm lesion. Solaraze® 3% gel is applied twice daily on the study lesions.

Detailed description

Neoplastic cells show an increased glucose metabolism and glycolysis which is associated with high lactate concentrations. There is also data for several tumor entities that high levels of lactate in the tumor are associated with tumor progression, metastasis and poor clinical outcome. Kreutz et al. demonstrated that diclofenac inhibits tumor cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo via COX-independent effects on glucose metabolism. Diclofenac is taken up by tumor cells and inhibits tumor cell proliferation through inhibition of the oncogene MYC and subsequently glycolysis and block of lactate transport. MYC regulates genes involved in glycolysis and is upregulated in neoplastic cells, which is in line with the metabolic switch to glycolysis, the so called Warburg effect, that cancer cells show. Although these results were found in vitro using human melanoma cells and in vivo in a mouse model, a similar mechanism of action is assumed to be relevant for the treatment of actinic keratoses with topical diclofenac. However tumor metabolism in diclofenac-treated actinic keratoses has never been investigated. To investigate the mechanism of action of diclofenac in the treatment of actinic keratoses, a clinical study analyzing particularly lactate levels, glycolysis and inflammatory infiltrate is needed.

Interventions

DRUG3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel

Sponsors

German Research Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital Regensburg
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Written informed consent has been signed prior to or at Screening Visit * Caucasian male and female patients * Age \> 18 years * Negative pregnancy test in women of childbearing age * Clinical diagnosis of actinic keratosis (AK) * A minimum of three AK lesions

Exclusion criteria

in immunocompromised patients : * Concomitant UV-phototherapy * Pregnancy or lactation * Women in child-bearing age who do not use highly efficient contraceptive methods (\<1% failure rate per year) * Skin diseases that might interfere with response evaluation of study treatment * Topical pretreatment of the AK study lesions with photodynamic therapy, Solaraze® 3% gel, Aldara®, 5-FU, or polyphenon E during the 8 weeks preceding study treatment * Radiation therapy performed in the treatment area during the 3 months preceding study therapy * Systemic treatment with diclofenac * Known intolerance to diclofenac or to any other ingredient of Solaraze® 3% gel * Conditions that might interfere with the ability to understand the study and thus give written informed consent * Simultaneous participation in another clinical study or participation in another clinical study in the 30 days directly preceding inclusion * Suspected lack of compliance

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Lactate level in skin biopsies of actinic keratoses4 weeks after the treatmentAssessment of the effects of topical 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel on lactate level in skin biopsies of actinic keratoses. Skin biopsies of actinic keratoses are obtained prior to treatment and 4 weeks after the treatment.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Lactate level in skin biopsies of healthy skin in a subpopulationBefore treatment and 4 weeks after the treatmentAssessment of the effects of topical 3% diclofenac in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel on lactate level in skin biopsies of actinic keratoses compared to untreated sun damaged, healthy skin in a subpopulation
Glycolysis-relevant proteins evaluated using PCR and Westernblot techniquesat the end of the treatment and 4 weeks after the treatmentGlycolysis-relevant proteins evaluated using PCR and Westernblot techniques
Metabolic changes (e.g. glucose, amino acids)at the end of the tretment and 4 weeks after the treatmentMetabolic changes (e.g. glucose, amino acids) evaluated by NMR methods and bioluminescence imaging techniques

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 21, 2026