BACKGROUND: Each year more than 1 million cases of skin cancer are reported. The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell cancer, which accounts for 80 percent of all skin cancers. The other types of skin cancer includes squamous and melanoma. Basal cell is the least aggressive of the cancers. Melanoma is the most aggressive. About 8,000 people die each year in the United States. Basal cell cancer has a tendency to develop in people with a light complexion who have had significant exposure to sunlight. The overall cure rate averages about 85 percent to 95 percent, depending on the extent of the disease and the type of treatment used. Surgery is the most common option, but now doctors have another treatment option for patients. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a skin cream called imiquimod 5% for early stage basal cell cancer.

IMIQUIMOD: This topical cream is also known as Aldara. It was originally developed and used for the treatment of genital warts. It’s a cream that works with the patient’s immune system. When applied to the skin, it stimulates an immune response. The patient’s skin will often become red and scabbed. The immune cells infiltrate the area, and then they recognize the cancer cells as foreign and initiate an attack against them. How often the cream is applied and for how long can vary among patients. Surgical oncologist Vernon Sondak, M.D., from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL, says, “I think one of the reasons we’re so excited about drugs like imiquimod is they represent a tangible application of the years and years, now decades of research that has gone into studying the immune system and how it affects cancer.” Dr. Sondak reminds patients that even though the cure rates are very high for skin cancer, the key is catching the cancer in its early stages. He says, “Because these cancers are on the skin, they’re there for everyone to see, and our goal is always to detect them and treat them as early as possible.”

CLINICAL STUDIES: A clinical trial conducted in Australia on imiquimod 5% cream examined the treatment of 99 patients with superficial basal cell cancer. The patients were divided into four groups. One group put the cream on twice a day, another one put it on once a day, another group put it on twice a day three times a week, and the last group used it once a day three times a week. After six weeks, all of the patients had their treatment sites surgically removed and examined under a microscope. Researchers report complete disappearance of cancer in 100 percent of patients in the twice a day group, 88 percent of patients in the once daily group, 73 percent of patient in the twice daily three times a week group, and 70 percent in the once daily three times a week group. While inflammatory skin reactions were common, only one patient dropped out due to the side effects from the cream. Researchers say it appears this cream is a promising treatment for superficial basal cell cancers and may potentially allow patients to forego surgery.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Dr. MBC-PR, Tampa, FL 33612, (813) 745-8482