calcipotriene and Carcinoma--Basal-Cell

The goal of field cancerization treatment is to reduce the risk of developing keratinocyte carcinoma. Selecting the appropriate therapy depends on the degree of field cancerization and the number of invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. Other considerations include treatment efficacy, cost, side effects, and patient preference. Field therapies are preferred because they address clinically visible disease and subclinical atypia. However, lesion-directed therapies are useful for lesions that are more difficult to treat or those where a histologic diagnosis is required. Patients with extensive field cancerization benefit from a combination of field-directed and lesion-directed treatments. The second article in this continuing medical education series provides a framework to guide evidence-based decision making for field cancerization treatment.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Calcitriol; Carcinogenesis; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Clinical Decision-Making; Combined Modality Therapy; Cryosurgery; Dermatology; Drug Synergism; Evidence-Based Medicine; Fluorouracil; Humans; Injections, Intralesional; Keratosis, Actinic; Medical Oncology; Mohs Surgery; Neoplasms, Second Primary; Photochemotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Skin; Skin Neoplasms; Skin Pigmentation; Treatment Outcome; Ultraviolet Rays

Topical calcipotriol plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combination is an effective immunotherapy against actinic keratosis (AK), which is a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the long-term effectiveness of calcipotriol plus 5-FU treatment for SCC prevention is unknown.. We performed a blinded prospective cohort study on participants of a randomized double-blind clinical trial in which a 4-day course of topical calcipotriol plus 5-FU combination was compared to Vaseline plus 5-FU (control) for AK treatment. SCC and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) incidences were assessed at 1, 2, and 3 years after trial. Tissues were analyzed for calcipotriol plus 5-FU-induced T cell immunity in the skin.. Calcipotriol plus 5-FU-induced tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cell formation in face and scalp skin associated with significantly higher erythema scores compared with control (P < 0.01). Importantly, more participants in the test cohort remained SCC-free over the more than 1,500-day follow-up period (P = 0.0765), and significantly fewer developed SCC on the treated face and scalp within 3 years (2 of 30 [7%] versus 11 of 40 [28%] in control group, hazard ratio 0.215 [95% CI: 0.048-0.972], P = 0.032). Accordingly, significantly more epidermal Trm cells persisted in the calcipotriol plus 5-FU-treated face and scalp skin compared with control (P = 0.0028). There was no significant difference in BCC incidence between the treatment groups.. A short course of calcipotriol plus 5-FU treatment on the face and scalp is associated with induction of robust T cell immunity and Trm formation against AKs and significantly lowers the risk of SCC development within 3 years of treatment.. This research was supported by internal academic funds and by grants from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Sidney Kimmel Foundation, Cancer Research Institute, and NIH.

Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Calcitriol; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fluorouracil; Humans; Immunotherapy; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Skin; Skin Neoplasms