Technology to treat skin cancer is approved for use in SUS

TREATMENT

Focus is on basal cell carcinoma in the early stages of treatment

Patients of the Unified Health System (SUS) with the most common type of skin cancer will have a new treatment developed by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP). The 100% national technology promises a quick treatment, with less discomfort and has been approved for use in public health.

A scab on her nose is how housewife Helena Pontieri Morales discovered the skin cancer lesion on her face. She underwent a photodynamic therapy treatment, which is revolutionizing dermatology in the country. The innovation allows patients like her to no longer need to undergo surgery.

“It only caused a little burn and that was it”, says Helena about the laser procedure.

The treatment is offered free of charge at Hospital Amaral Carvalho, in the city of Jaú, in the interior of São Paulo, one of the 70 study centers that use the therapy. Lesions that can be treated are non-melanoma, which account for most cases of skin cancer among Brazilians.

“The focus of our project is basal cell carcinoma in the initial phase of treatment, a small lesion, with a specific histological subtype to be contemplated, to receive photodynamic therapy”, explains dermatologist Ana Gabriela Sálvio.

This device has already treated more than 5,000 injuries and is present in nine countries in Latin America. The cost of the treatment is around BRL 200 to BRL 300 per skin lesion measuring up to one centimeter.

After having this ointment absorbed by the skin, the patient undergoes photodynamic therapy, which kills cancer cells. In just two sessions, lasting just 20 minutes, more than 90% of patients can already be cured.

The therapy has been developed for 20 years by USP in São Carlos. Brazil is considered the country that most invested in the photodynamic technique in the world, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). There were more than R$ 10 million, with incentives from the Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (Fapesp), the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), the Ministry of Health and the Financier of Studies and Projects (Finep).

“One of Brazil’s great challenges is to place Brazilian innovation at the level of scientific production. We are the 13th country in science production in the world, but the 54th country in innovation of new products, systems and solutions for the real world. This example here in São Carlos is basic science being transformed into innovation and a product that solves a SUS problem”, evaluates Celso Pansera, president of Finep.

The treatment has been available for about 10 years in the private system. With the development of a national technology, in July this year, the device was approved for use in the SUS.

“It is a very big success. As it is a relatively cheap and convenient, easy technique that does not require a large infrastructure, it is especially suitable for the Unified Health System, which needs to make it available to a very large number of people in society”, points out researcher Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato, from the São Carlos Physics Institute, at USP.

The Ministry of Health was contacted by TV Brasil to find out when the technology will be available in the SUS, but there was no response.

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