title: [Oral acitretin and topical imiquimod as neoadjuvant treatment for giant basal cell carcinoma].
abstract: Giant basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is defined as a tumor with a diameter of 5 cm or more. Surgery, the treatment of choice for any type of BCC, can cause considerable anatomical damage in large tumors. In 2 patients with giant BCC we therefore provided neoadjuvant treatment with a combination of oral acitretin and topical 5% imiquimod. Acitretin is a systemic retinoid used for primary prevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Imiquimod is an immunomodulator whose approved indications include treatment of nonfacial superficial BCC less than 2 cm in diameter. Previous studies have demonstrated a synergic anticancer effect of both drugs in vitro and in vivo. This combination produced a marked reduction in tumor mass in our patients. Later we were able to provide definitive treatment, which achieved complete remission of the tumors.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, España. vsanmartin6@yahoo.es
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanmartín
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aguayo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baradad
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Casanova
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications; D012074:Remission Induction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D017255:Acitretin; D000077271:Imiquimod