Bowen's disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) in immunosuppressed patients treated with imiquimod 5% cream and a cox inhibitor, sulindac: potential applications for this combination of immunotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) often have a protracted course. However, all these patients are immunosuppressed and may have a high incidence of cutaneous malignancies.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if combination therapy using topical imiquimod cream 5% and the oral cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor are useful in the therapy of squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCC in situ)/Bowen's disease in patients with long-standing CLL.

METHODS:

Five CLL patients with head and neck cutaneous SCC in situ, which met criteria for Bowen's disease, were treated with topical 5% topical imiquimod cream and an oral COX inhibitor, sulindac 200 mg twice a day.

RESULTS:

All patients showed clinical resolution and histologic clearing of the tumors after 16 weeks of therapy.

CONCLUSION:

The local immune modulator, 5% imiquimod, in combination with a COX inhibitor, with its many potential antitumor effects may stimulate the innate and possibly the adaptive immune responses to clear these malignancies.

• Authors: K J Smith, M Germain, H Skelton
• Journal: Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] (Dermatol Surg) Vol. 27 Issue 2 Pg. 143-6 (Feb 2001) ISSN: 1076-0512 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11207687 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Aminoquinolines
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
• Ointments
• Sulindac
• Imiquimod

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (administration & dosage)
• Administration, Topical
• Aged
• Aminoquinolines (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Bowen's Disease (drug therapy)
• Carcinoma in Situ (therapy)
• Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Imiquimod
• Immunosuppression Therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell (immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Second Primary (drug therapy)
• Ointments
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Sulindac (administration & dosage, adverse effects)