Topical pharmacotherapy for skin cancer: part II. Clinical applications.
The purpose of the paper is to provide an in-depth, evidence-based analysis of the clinical use of topical treatments for skin cancer. A comprehensive review of topical drugs has been performed, including 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, diclofenac, ingenol mebutate, retinoids, resiquimod, piroxicam, dobesilate, and betulinic acid. The evaluated studies were rated according to their level of evidence level (I-V), as indicated by recent guidelines for evidence-based medicine, The Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence. Therapeutic response is generally related to tumor type, extent, and localization, and also to patient compliance. Careful patient selection is required in order to achieve the desired goal of complete tumor clearance.
Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Italy. Electronic address: cldermct@nti.it.
Giuseppe
G
Micali
Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Italy.
Francesco
F
Lacarrubba
Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Italy.
Maria Rita
MR
Nasca
Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Ferraro
Department of Dermatology, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.
Robert A
RA
Schwartz
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
Bowen disease; Paget disease; actinic keratosis; basal cell carcinoma; erythroplasia of Queyrat; lentigo maligna; melanoma; skin cancer; squamous cell carcinoma; topical treatment