Mechanism of action: The exact mechanism of action of methoxsalen is not known.The best-known bio-chemical reaction of methoxsalen is wrth DNA. Methoxsalen,upon photoactivation,conjugates and forms covalent bonds with DNA which leads to the formation of both mono functional (addition to a single strand of DNA) and bifunctional adducts (cross linking of psoralen to both strands of DNA). Reactions with proteins have also been described.

For the palliative treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Photopheresis consists of removing a portion of the patient's blood and separating the red blood cell from the white cell layer (buffy coat) by centrifugation. The red cells are returned to the patient and the UVADEX® (methoxsalen) Sterile Solutionis then injected into the instrument and mixed with the buffy coat. The instrument then irradiates this drug-cell mixture with ultra violet light (UVA light, 320-400 nm) and returns the treated cells to the patient. See the appropriate Operator's Manual for details of this process. Although extra corporeal phototherapy exposes less than 10% of the total body burden of malignant cells to methoxsalen plus light, some patients achieve a complete response. Animal studies suggest that the photopheresis may activate an immune-mediated response against the malignant T-cells.

Use of the UVAR® and UVAR® XTS™ Systems after oral administration of methoxsalen were previously approved for the treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. Interpatient variability in peak plasma concentration after an oral dose of methoxsalen ranges from 6 to 15 fold. UVADEX® (methoxsalen) is injected directly into the separated buffy coat in the instrument in an attempt to diminish this interpatient variability and to improve the exposure of the cells to the drug.

Methoxsalen is reversibly bound to serum albumin and is also preferentially taken up by epidermal cells. Methoxsalen is rapidly metabolized in humans, with approximately 95% of the drug excreted as metabolites in the urine within 24 hours.

Systemic administration of methoxsalen followed by UVA exposure leads to cell injury. The most obvious manifestation of this injury after skin exposure is delayed erythema, which may not begin for several hours and peaks at 48-72 hours.The inflammation is followed over several days to weeks, by repair which is manifested by increased melanization of the epidermis and thickening of the stratum corneum.

The total dose of methoxsalen delivered in UVADEX® (methoxsalen) is substantially lower (approximately 200 times) than that used with oral administration.

Clinical Studies

Three single-arm studies were pertormed to evaluate the effectiveness of photopheresis in the treatment of the skin manifestations of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL). In the first study (CTCL1), 39 patients were treated with the oral formulation of methoxsalen in conjunction with the UVAR® Photopheresis System. The second study (CTCL2) was a 5-year post approval follow-up of 57 CTCL patients that was conducted to evaluate long-term safety. This study also used the oral dosage formulation of methoxsalen. In the third study (CTCL3), 51 patients were treated with the UVADEX® formulation of methoxsalen in conjunction with the UVAR® Photopheresis System. In study CTCL3, 86 % of the patients were Caucasian, the median age was 62 years, and the average number of prior therapies was 4.3.

In study CTCL 1, prednisone up to 10 mg/day was permitted in addition to topical steroids. In CTCL 2, there was no concomitant medication restriction. In CTCL3, topical steroids were permitted only for the treatment of fissures on the soles of the feet and the palms of hands. All other steroids, topical or systemic, were prohibited.

In all three studies, patients were initially treated on two consecutive days every four to five weeks. If the patient did not respond after four cycles, treatment was accelerated to two consecutive days every other week. If the patient did not respond after four cycles at the accelerated schedule, the patient was treated on two consecutive days every week. If the patient still did not respond after four cycles of weekly treatments, the schedule was increased to three consecutive days every week for three cycles. In study CTCL3, 15 of the17 responses were seen within six months of treatment. Only two patients responded to treatment after six months. Clinical experience does not extend beyond this treatment frequency and there is no evidence to show that treatment with UVADEX® (methoxsalen) beyond six months or using a different schedule provided additional benefit.

Overall skin scores were used in the clinical studies of photopheresis to assess the patient's response to treatment. The patient's baseline skin score was used for comparis on with subsequent scores. A 25% reduction in skin score maintained for four consecutive weeks was considered a successful response to photopheresis therapy. Table 1 indicates the percent of successful responses within six months of beginning therapy for all patients who received at least one course of photopheresis. Only patients with patch plaque, extensive plaque and erythrodermic disease were enrolled in these studies. No patients with disease in the tumor phase were treated. There are no data available regarding the efficacy of UVADEX® (methoxsalen) in patients with disease in the tumor phase.

Table1: Percentage of Successful Responses Within Six Months of Beginning Therapy

Although the response rate with UVADEX® in CTCL3 was similar to with oral methoxsalen in CTCL 2, the possibility that UVADEX® (methoxsalen) .is inferior in efficacy to oral mothoxsalen cannot be excluded due to the design and size of the clinical trials. The higher response rate with oral methoxsalen in CTCL1 may bepartly due to patients receiving more treatments (mean of 64 in CTCL 1, 31 in CTCL 2, and 20 in CTCL 3), and to the administration of systemic steroids in CTCL 1.

Retrospective analyses of three clinical benefit parameters from the Body Area Severity Scores in CTCL 3 suggested a correlation between skin score response and improvement in edema, scaling and resolution at fissures.

Last reviewed on RxList: 12/2/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.