title: TLR7 Gln11Leu single nucleotide polymorphism and response to treatment with imiquimod in patients with basal cell carcinoma: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist, imiquimod, offers a topical and noninvasive therapeutic method for the clinical treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In this study we explored the relationship between the functional X-linked TLR7 rs179008/Gln11Leu polymorphism and the response to imiquimod in patients with BCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four BCC patients treated with imiquimod were included in the study. SNP genotyping of the TLR7 promoter polymorphism was performed by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group of female nonresponders to imiquimod a higher frequency of the altered genotype compared with responders was observed. Similarly, in the group of male nonresponders to imiquimod both patients with the mutated genotype were nonresponders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that patients carrying at least one T allele of the TLR7 promoter polymorphism are associated with an increased probability to be resistant to imiquimod therapy.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Battisti 206, 35100 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piaserico
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Battisti 206, 35100 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michelotto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Public Health, University of Padua, Via Loredan 18, 35100 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Battisti 206, 35100 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alaibac
mesh_terms: D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007930:Leucine / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7 / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C495348:TLR7 protein, human; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; D005973:Glutamine; D007930:Leucine; D000077271:Imiquimod
keywords: Toll-like receptor; basal cell carcinoma; imiquimod; innate immunity; skin