title: Biological agents for controlling excessive scarring.
abstract: The potential of various biological agents to reduce or prevent excessive scar formation has now been evaluated in numerous in-vitro studies, experimental animal models and preliminary clinical trials, in some cases with particularly promising results. Perhaps prominent among this group of biological agents, and, to some degree, possibly representing marketed compounds already being used 'off label' to manage excessive scarring, are the tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist etanercept, and immune-response modifiers such as IFNalpha2b and imiquimod. Additional assessment of these novel agents is now justified with a view to reducing or preventing hypertrophic scars, keloid scars and the recurrence of post-excision keloid lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA. bberman@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berman
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007627:Keloid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept; D000077271:Imiquimod