Therapeutic Induction of Dermal Remodeling in Veterans to Prevent Actinic Neoplasia Caused by Chronic Environmental Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer, Actinic Keratosis

In brief

The investigators' previous studies demonstrate geriatric subject skin responds differently to ultraviolet B (UVB) light compared to young subject skin, which contribute to increased rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and actinic keratosis (AK) development in geriatric populations. Previously, the investigators have shown that therapeutic dermal remodeling interventions (e.g., fractionated laser resurfacing and microneedling) can restore appropriate skin responses to UVB in geriatric skin. The investigators also demonstrated fractionated laser resurfacing (FLR) reduced rates of NMSC and AK development (compared to untreated control skin) in at risk geriatric subjects. This interventional study will assess the ability of two therapeutic dermal remodeling therapies, microneedling and trichloroacetic acid chemical (TCA) peel, to impact NMSC and AK development in at risk geriatric subjects. Geriatric subjects will be enrolled into one of two study groups. In the first group, one arm will be treated with microneedling and the other arm will not be treated on day 1. In the second group, one arm will be treated with TCA peel and the other arm will not be treated on day 1. Subjects will subsequently be monitored for number of NMSC and AK on treated and untreated (control) forearms in each group. In addition to monitoring NMSC and AK development, subjects at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC will undergo skin punch biopsy at one of their follow up visits for microscopic and molecular analyses of treated and untreated skin.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07648407

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

96

Starts

2026-10-01

Expected to finish

2030-09-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-15

Who can join

Age: 60 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adult Males and Females age 60 and older with 5 or more AKs on each forearm
• Skin type fair-Fitzpatrick I-II
• Able to comprehend procedures and risks

You may not qualify if…

• More than 10 AKs on an extremity, or AKs that are large (2-3+)
• Medical history of Diabetes
• Coagulopathy or easy bleeding
• History of poor wound healing or scarring
• Large tattoos that can interfere with study
• Other serious health issues and other skin diseases that could interfere with the study
• Recent (within 1 year) field therapies such as Efudex cream or PDT to forearms
• Planning to leave region in next 4 years

Where it is running

• Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN — Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
• Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH — Dayton, Ohio, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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