MTAK - Microwave Therapy for Actinic Keratosis

据估计，在英国，每3名60岁以上的人中就有1人至少有一种光化性角化病(AK)病变。光化性角化病是非黑色素瘤皮肤癌的首发症状。由于英国缺少200多名皮肤科医生，诊断和治疗能力正在减弱。高达25%的全科医生工作量是基于皮肤的，随着人口老龄化，皮肤科的危机需要有效、分散和省时的治疗。现有的治疗方法未能平衡有效性、副作用和成本。Emblation希望改变便携式微波平台的用途，用于治疗AK。已经是一种治疗足底尖锐湿疣的高效方法，通过联合破坏性和免疫反应效应，治疗AK的潜力需要探索。还将测量AK的物理性能，以适应和开发当前产品的手机天线(应用于皮肤的部件)。实验室中的研究将有助于确定在小型试验中治疗人类AK细胞的剂量，此外还将研究发挥作用的愈合机制。这些结果和实验数据将为项目结束后的随机对照试验(RCT)提供一个起点。如果没有这个项目，RCT的风险和成本都很高。

It is estimated that 1 in 3 people over 60 years old in the UK has at least one actinic keratosis (AK) lesion. Actinic keratoses are the first appearance of a non-melanoma skin cancer. With a deficit of more than 200 dermatologists in the UK, the ability to diagnose and treat is being diminished. Up to 25% of GP workload is skin based and with an ageing population the crisis in dermatology needs treatments that are effective, decentralised and time efficient. Existing treatments fail to balance effectiveness, side effects and cost.Emblation wish to repurpose a portable microwave platform for use in treating AK. Already a highly effective treatment for plantar warts, through a combined destructive and immune response effect, the potential to treat AK needs to be explored. Measurements of the physical properties of AK will also be taken in order to adapt and develop the current product’s hand piece antenna (the part applied to the skin). Studies in a lab will help determine the dose to treat AK cells on humans in a small trial, in addition to investigating the healing mechanisms at play. The results and experimental data will provide a starting point for a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) after the project. An RCT is high risk and cost without this project .