EVALUATION OF ORAL RETINOID PREVENTIVE ACTION ON HUMAN CUTANEOUS EPITHELIOMAS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 107  (7) , 657-663
Abstract
Beneficial effects of oral retinoids in prophylaxis of epithelial neoplasias have been demonstrated experimentally. Oral retinoid (etretinate; (RO 10-9359) was used in human dermatosis with high frequency of cutaneous malignancies: xeroderma pigmentosum with or without malignant neoplasias, Mibelli''s porokeratosis with multifocal malignant degeneration, basal cell nevus syndrome with basal cell carcinomas, familial epithelioma of Ferguson-Smith and actinic keratosis. This work started in Dec., 1977. Visible epitheliomas were treated before trial. Initial dose of the retinoid was 1 mg/kg daily, and decreased depending on individual tolerance. The number of epitheliomas observed in years preceding retinoid therapy and number of them appearing during treatment were compared in 2 familial cases (basal cell nevus syndrome in twins and xeroderma pigmentosum in 2 brothers) comparison was made between treated and untreated patients. First results are very promising: an excellent response on solar keratosis is noted. Epithelioma occurrence seems to be prevented or delayed by oral retinoid therapy. More cases, a longer time and periods without treatment are necessary to confirm these results. The drug is not active on already constituted carcinomas at this dose.

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