title: Dosing with 5% imiquimod cream 3 times per week for the treatment of actinic keratosis: results of two phase 3, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 5% imiquimod cream compared with vehicle in the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two phase 3 randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six ambulatory care offices, including dermatologists in private practice or research centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred ninety-two patients, 18 years and older, with 4 to 8 AK lesions in a 25-cm(2) treatment area on the face or the balding scalp were randomized; an additional 162 patients underwent screening but were ineligible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients applied 5% imiquimod (Aldara) or vehicle cream to the treatment area once daily, 3 times per week, for 16 weeks, followed by an 8-week posttreatment period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complete clearance rate (proportion of patients at the 8-week posttreatment visit with no clinically visible AK lesions in the treatment area), partial clearance rate (proportion of patients at the 8-week posttreatment visit with a >/=75% reduction in the number of baseline AK lesions in the treatment area), and frequency and severity of adverse events and local skin reactions were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete and partial clearance rates for imiquimod-treated patients (48.3% and 64.0%, respectively) were clinically and statistically significantly higher than for vehicle-treated patients (7.2% and 13.6%, respectively). The median percentage reduction of baseline lesions was 86.6% for the imiquimod-treated group and 14.3% for the vehicle-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 5% imiquimod cream dosed 3 times weekly for 16 weeks is safe and effective for the treatment of AK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Korman
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matheson
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKane
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D009824:Ointments; D000077271:Imiquimod