title: Do lasers or topicals really work for nonmelanoma skin cancers?
abstract: Novel strategies are urgently needed to address the millions of nonmelanoma skin cancers treated in the United States annually. The need is greatest for those patients who are poor surgical candidates or those prone to numerous nonmelanoma skin cancers and therefore at risk for marked disfigurement. Traditional treatment strategies include electrosurgery with curettage, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, excision, and Mohs micrographic surgery. Alternatives to traditional treatment, including topical medications and light or laser therapies, are becoming popular; however, there are various degrees of efficacy among these alternative tactics. These alternatives include topical retinoids, peels, 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, photodynamic therapy, and lasers. The purpose of this paper is to review the available data regarding these alternative strategies and permit the reader to have a sense of which therapies are reasonable options for care.
authors.affiliation: Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, 317 East 34th Street New York, NY 10016, USA. lbrightman@laserskinsurgery.com
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brightman
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warycha
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anolik
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Geronemus
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002615:Chemexfoliation; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D053685:Laser Therapy; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010145:Paget Disease, Extramammary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012176:Retinoids
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000077271:Imiquimod; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; C086827:tazarotene; D012176:Retinoids