To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: EADV: Imiquimod May Eradicate Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/23CF72.htm Doctor's Guide October 24, 2003
By Bonnie Darves BARCELONA, SPAIN -- October 24, 2003 -- Six weeks of treatment with imiquimod 5% cream may help eradicate superficial basal cell carcinoma, based on results of a new European study presented here at the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology Congress. As the efficacy and safety results of this open-label Phase III study were more promising than expected, imiquimod 5% (IQ-5) may emerge as a noninvasive treatment for early-stage basal cell cancers, said lead investigator Harald Gollnick, MD, University of Dermatology and Venereology, Magdeburg, Germany, provided continued follow-up studies -- including this continuing study -- confirm that recurrence rates remain low. The multicentre study, involving 182 European Caucasian patients (predominantly male and with a mean age of 65 years), evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of IQ-5 in eradicating tumours with a minimum area of 0.5 cm2 and a maximum diameter of 2.0 cm. Median tumour size was 1.0 cm, and the majority of sites treated were on the trunk. Initial clearance rate was 90%. Nearly 90% of subjects reported that they have tanned "minimally" in the past. Patients were treated with IQ-5 cream 5 days a week for 6 weeks, and were assessed at 6 months, 12 months and annually. Assessment will continue for a total period of 4 years. Based on the first year's results, IQ-5 was both safe and efficacious, with minimal adverse events. Approximately 92% of subjects had achieved clearance at 12 weeks post-treatment, and of those subjects, 97.4% retained a sustained clearance rate of 97% by Month 12. Adverse events, primarily application site reactions, affected 19% of patients. But most were mild and resolved after treatment was discontinued. To date, three subjects in the 25-centre study have discontinued because of adverse events, Dr. Gollnick noted, confirming that IQ-5 is a safe alternative treatment starting point for non-advanced basal cell tumours. [Study title: Long-term Efficacy of Imiquimod 5% Cream for Treatment of Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma: a European Study. Poster 5-17] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.