Effects of topical tretinoin on dysplastic nevi.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

As potential precursors of melanoma and markers of increased melanoma risk, dysplastic nevi are suitable targets of strategies for melanoma chemoprevention. We report the results of a pilot study of topical retinoic acid in patients with dysplastic nevi.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Five male patients with dysplastic nevi applied tretinoin to half of the back for 6 months. Baseline photographs of dysplastic nevi were compared with posttreatment photographs and assessed for morphologic change. At study completion, each subject had four nevi excised from the treated side and four from the untreated side of the back. Biopsies were histologically evaluated for the presence of dysplasia.

RESULTS:

All patients developed signs of irritation as a result of treatment. One patient was not compliant with treatment due to skin irritation. The four compliant patients showed significant decreases in the clinical atypia of treated lesions, with concomitant fading and even disappearance of many treated nevi. Histologically, only four of 16 treated nevi met histologic criteria for dysplasia, in comparison to 13 of 16 untreated nevi.

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that there is concomitant clinical and histologic improvement in a significant percentage of dysplastic nevi treated with topical tretinoin. However, the utility of topical tretinoin for chemoprevention of melanoma is limited by difficulty of application and associated inflammation. While new strategies in chemoprevention of melanoma are explored, sun protection and assiduous avoidance of sunburn must remain the mainstay of melanoma prevention.

• Authors: A C Halpern, L M Schuchter, D E Elder, D Guerry 4th, R Elenitsas, B Trock, I Matozzo
• Journal: Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (J Clin Oncol) Vol. 12 Issue 5 Pg. 1028-35 (May 1994) ISSN: 0732-183X [Print] United States
• PMID: 8164026 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anticarcinogenic Agents
• Tretinoin

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Anticarcinogenic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Cell Differentiation
• Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome (drug therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Melanoma (prevention & control)
• Pilot Projects
• Tretinoin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)