Neoadjuvant photodynamic therapy as a therapeutic alternative in multiple basal cell carcinoma induced by radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Non-melanoma skin cancer within previously irradiated areas presents a common challenge, requiring innovative therapies. Complex scenarios, like XRT-induced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or Gorlin's syndrome, often involve multiple synchronous tumor lesions where photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a viable therapeutic alternative. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 49-year-old male with a history of XRT for brain tumors. The patient was undergoing treatment for recurrent basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in the right temporal irradiated area, unresponsive to conventional treatments. In the latest evaluation, the patient presented a nodular tumor and several peripheral superficial foci. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was administered using methyl aminolevulinate 160 mg/g in cream (Metvix®) in two sessions spaced 7 days apart before surgery. The photosensitizer was applied 3 h before initiating PDT, and red light exposure was performed with the Aktilite© lamp (wavelength 630 nm, 100 mm distance, voltage 100 to 240 V, frequency 50 Hz, power 180 W) for 7 min. CONCLUSIóN: PDT with methyl aminolevulinate demonstrated efficacy as a neoadjuvant treatment in a case of multiple XRT-induced BCCs before surgery. PDT emerges as a valuable therapeutic alternative for multiple BCCs, particularly in non-responsive cases.

A prospective multicenter study assessing effectiveness and safety of secukinumab in a real-life setting in 158 patients.

BACKGROUND: Secukinumab is a first-in-class interleukin 17A monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated an excellent safety and efficacy profile in phase 3 studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of secukinumab in daily clinical practice and to understand the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of patients treated with secukinumab in clinical settings. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective observational study, we recruited adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis from 12 hospitals in Spain during January-December 2016. These patients were treated with secukinumab and prospectively followed at 12-week intervals for 52 weeks. RESULTS: In total, 158 patients were recruited to the study. A Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score improvement ≥75% over baseline (PASI-75) was achieved by 57%, 83.5%, 89%, and 78.5% of patients at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 52, respectively. PASI-90 was achieved in 27.8%, 62%, 64.6%, and 63.2% of patients at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 52, respectively; PASI-75 and PASI-90 responders were significantly more common among patients with a body mass index <30 kg/cm2 and patients without previous biologic therapy failures. LIMITATIONS: Observational study. Time from onset of psoriasis was not evaluated. CONCLUSION: Secukinumab is a safe treatment with effectiveness rates similar to those found in its phase 3 studies. These rates endure up to a year from start of treatment.

Neonatal Molluscum contagiosum: five new cases and a literature review.

Congenital or neonatal Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is an unusual infection, barely reported in the literature. In these patients a mechanism of transmission that is neither via contact or sexual transmission should be considered. We describe five cases of neonatal MC and review the cases already published to discuss the possible aetiopathogenic mechanism.