title: Emerging new drugs for scar reduction.
abstract: Hypertropic and keloid scars cause both functional and cosmetic problems for those afflicted. Although people of all ages suffer from these conditions, the patients are often young and otherwise healthy, and become burdened with an activity limiting lesion or psychosocial stresses associated with a perceived aesthetic defect. Currently available treatment modalities are often inconvenient, occasionally painful, and have unwanted side effects. Despite the highest standard of care, treatment protocols are prone to failure with high rates of scar recurrence. Hypertropic and keloid scars are the result of an abnormal healing response and may result from an extended inflammatory phase in the wound healing process. Regardless of the causes, which remain elusive, excessive collagen deposition occurs relative to normal wounds. This extracellular matrix collagen accumulation makes a logical target for pharmacological interventions, and researchers are attempting to modify collagen-synthetic and -degradative pathways. In addition, growth factors and cytokines have been implicated in scar formation, and these factors are targeted for potential therapeutic use in scar management. Cytotoxic agents are also being evaluated for their potential utility in the reduction of tissue bulk associated with these excessive scar states. Given the wide range of potential therapeutic agents, the future market for scar therapy remains highly promising.
authors.affiliation: S-2221 MCN Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Lillian B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Nanney
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007627:Keloid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006133:Growth Substances; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; D001761:Bleomycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins