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Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.03977.x
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Abstract
Background The use of imiquimod for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) in actual conditions
of the daily practice has been poorly studied.
Objective A prospective, observational and multicentre study was designed to gather information on the
effectiveness and safety of imiquimod therapy in patients with sBCC in daily practice. Patients satisfaction with
imiquimod was also assessed.
Methods A total of 370 adult patients with sBCC were included in the study. Patients were treated with imiquimod
5% cream five times per week for 6 weeks. A maximum of three lesions per patient were treated. Patients were
requested to complete diary cards to register treatment-related events and had a final visit within 16 weeks after the
end of treatment.
Results Target sBCCs included 471 tumours, with a mean (SD) 1.3 (0.6) lesions per patient. Most sBCC were
primary tumours (92.6%). Tumours were clinically diagnosed in 63.2% of cases and histologically confirmed in
36.8%. Previous sBCC had occurred in 42% of the patients. The mean number of daily applications of imiquimod
was 1.0 (0.1) for a mean of 4.9 (0.5) days per week. The mean duration of treatment was 6.0 (1.0) weeks. In 13
patients (14 target sBCCs), rest periods were indicated with a mean of 5.0 (2.8) rest days. The clearance rate was
83.2%. Clearance rate was independent of the tumour size. Local skin reactions (mostly erythema) occurred in 85%
of cases (mild 37%, moderate 39% and severe 24%). Nine patients discontinued imiquimod treatment because of
severity of application site reactions. Most patients (82.1%) were very satisfied or satisfied with imiquimod.
Conclusions The present data from a prospective study carried out in a community setting adds evidence of the
usefulness and favourable clinical profile of imiquimod 5% cream when administered for treating sBCC.
Received: 31 January 2010; Accepted: 10 January 2011
Conflicts of interest
Dr. Esteban Dauden has the following conflict of interests: Advisory Board member, consultant, grants, research
support, participation in clinical trials, honorarium for speaking, research support, with the following pharmaceutical
companies: Abbott, Astellas, Biogen, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc., Galderma, Glaxo, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma,
Merck-Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Stiefel, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, 3M.
Funding sources
This study was sponsored by MEDA Pharma, Madrid, Spain.
Introduction
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer in
fair skinned populations and the incidence of BCC continues to
rise by approximately 10% per year.1 Although mortality is low,
this malignancy causes considerable morbidity and places a huge
burden on healthcare services worldwide.2 Superficial BCC (sBCC)
1
See Appendix.
Methods
Study design
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Between 1st January 2006 and 31st March 2007, all consecutive
patients of both sexes aged 18 years or older, with histologically
proven sBCC or lesions clinically consistent with sBCC in which
treatment with imiquimod 5% cream was indicated by the dermatologist in charge according to the product technical specifications
were eligible, provided that they gave written informed consent
and were able to understand and follow the study procedures.
Patients with other subtypes of BCC were excluded as were those
in whom the use of imiquimod was contraindicated according to
the product technical specifications. Pregnant women and nursing
mothers were also excluded.
Study procedures and data collection
Dauden
1306
Enrolled, n = 370
Withdrew in treatment, n = 18
Local skin reactions, n = 9
Patients decision, n = 6
Lack of improvement, n = 1
Good response, n = 1
Concurrent herpes zoster, n = 1
Withdrew in follow-up, n = 3
Table 1 Baseline characteristics and location of target superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC)
Statistical analysis
The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL,
USA) (version 15.0) for Windows was used for the analysis of
data. Double data entry was carried out with a subsequent validation to guarantee the quality and consistency of the data. Continuous variables are expressed as mean and standard deviation (SD)
and qualitative variables are described as frequencies and percentages. The chi-squared test or the Fishers exact tests were used for
the comparison of categorical variables and the Students t-test for
continuous variables. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
Data
n (%)
Total patients
370
Gender
Male
200
Female
170
34 (9.2)
154 (41.6)
Results
Electrocoagulation
Curettage
68.4 (13.2)
Cryosurgery
5-FU
Imiquimod
Radiotherapy
Target tumours
124 (80.5)
10 (6.5)
3 (1.9)
10 (6.5)
8 (5.2)
14 (9.1)
8 (5.2)
471
Location
Face
164 (34.8)
11 (2.3)
41 (8.7)
Trunk
138 (29.3)
Upper extremity
92 (19.5)
Lower extremity
22 (4.7)
Not specified
Size, cm2, mean (SD)
3 (0.6)
1.6 (2.9)
100
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Clearance
No clearance
90
80
Site of lesion
Clearance, n (%)
Face, n = 156
131 (84)
70
60
50
Trunk, n = 130
40
30
8 (72.7)
32 (86.5)
109 (83.8)
Upper extremity, n = 87
73 (83.9)
Lower extremity, n = 22
16 (72.7)
Not specified, n = 3
2 (66.7)
20
10
0
<0.5
0.5 to 1
1 to 2
Target tumour size (cm2)
>2
Figure 2 Clearance rates of target superficial basal cell carcinomas (sBCCs) (clinical and histological combined) in relation to
tumour size.
Total
Mild
Moderate
Erythema
364 (77.3)
141 (38.7)
158 (43.4)
65 (17.9)
Crusting
179 (38.0)
63 (35.2)
69 (38.5)
47 (26.3)
Oedema
153 (32.5)
58 (37.9)
77 (50.3)
18 (11.8)
Erosion
128 (27.2)
59 (46.1)
44 (34.4)
25 (19.5)
Scaling
105 (22.3)
70 (66.7)
27 (25.7)
8 (7.6)
Vesicles
67 (14.2)
26 (38.8)
30 (44.8)
11 (16.4)
Itching
47 (10)
12 (25.5)
26 (55.3)
9 (19.1)
Bleeding
29 (6.2)
14 (48.3)
10 (35.7)
5 (17.9)
Pain
22 (4.7)
7 (31.8)
13 (59.1)
2 (9.1)
Burning
Intensity
Severe
30 (6.4)
7 (23.3)
15 (50)
8 (26.7)
Hypopigmentation
102 (21.7)
81 (79.4)
20 (19.6)
1 (1.0)
Hyperpigmentation
26 (5.5)
22 (84.6)
3 (15.4)
1 (3.8)
Percentages in parenthesis.
Dauden
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Extremely satisfied
Satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Extremely dissatisfied
10
20
30
40
50
Discussion
The therapeutic potential of imiquimod in clinical practice has
been recognized for the past decade. Following an approved indication for the treatment of external genital warts, imiquimod 5%
topical cream has received further approval for treating actinic
keratosis and small sBCC in adults. Currently, imiquimod 5% topical cream is a widely studied and characterized TLR-7 agonist
available in the clinical milieu.18,19 The present prospective and
multicentre study carried out in a large sample of patients with
sBCC provides data on the effectiveness and safety of imiquimod
topical therapy in real life conditions. To our knowledge, no previous prospective study in a large sample of patients with sBCC treated with imiquimod in actual conditions of the daily practice has
been reported. Therefore, this study adds descriptive information
on the use of this immune response modulator in patients seeking
medical care at dermatological clinics in Spain. The present findings may be useful to gather postapproval safety and efficacy data.
In this clinical series of 370 patients, with a total of 471 target
sBCCs treated with imiquimod 5% cream, a clearance rate of
83.2% was obtained. In the majority of patients, the final outcome
was defined clinically only (clinical clearance rate of 94.9%), histologically in 3.2% of cases and clinically and histologically in 1.9%
of cases. The high clearance rate confirms the efficacy of imiquimod for treating sBCC reported in clinical trials.6,8,9,14,16,20 The
fact that the final outcome was histologically defined in only 19
patients supports the dermatologists ability to clinically determine
that the tumour is gone at the end of treatment and that clinical
clearance is ultimately used in clinical practice. On the other hand,
the low rate of histological confirmation is related to the naturalistic design of the study. Because the study was carried out in daily
practice conditions, no indications regarding histological assessment of the final outcome were predefined, which is different than
diary cards were only collected for 46% of the target tumours.
However, no previous data on compliance with imiquimod therapy in patients with sBCC in routine daily practice have been
reported.
In summary, the present data from a prospective, observational
and multicentre study carried out in daily practice conditions adds
evidence for the usefulness and favourable clinical profile of imiquimod 5% cream when used for the treatment of sBCC.
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16
17
18
19
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Patricia Ramrez, DPharm, Medical
Department, MEDA Pharma, for valuable support in the logistics aspects of the study and critical comments of the final
draft and Marta Pulido, MD, for editing the manuscript and
editorial assistance.
20
21
22
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Appendix
BASALE Study Group: N Perez Oliva, C Raya, J Sanchez del
Ro, and J Santos Juanes, Hospital Universitario Central de
Asturias, Oviedo; JR Curto, Ambulatorio de Mieres Norte,
Mieres; A Vila, A Llambrich, R Taberner, and C Nadal, Hospital Son Lla`tzer, Palma de Mallorca; V Rocamora, MC Sanchez
Bermejo, B Bartolome Gonzalez, and M Pascual Lopez, Hospital de Manacor, Manacor; F Mestre Bauza, T Alabau Sabater,
A Bauza Alonso, J del Pozo Hernando, A Martn Santiago, and
MA Ventayol Ventayol, Hospital Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca; A Noda, M Saez Rodrguez, M Garca Bustnduy, M
Rodrguez Martn, and N Perez Robayna, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife; L Borrego, E Soler
Cruz, and B Hernandez Machn, Hospital Insular, Las Palmas
de Gran Canaria; J Suarez Hernandez, S Dorta Alom, L Feliciano Divasson, and R Villalba Caballero, Hospital Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife; MA Rodrguez
Prieto and I Ruiz Gonzalez, Hospital de Leon, Leon; T Hernadez Llorente, Hospital Provincial de Avila, Avila; R Gimenez
Garca, Hospital Ro Hortega, Valladolid; P de Unamuno, I
Hernandez Vicente, and M Romero Riesco, Hospital de Salamanca, Salamanca; MC Gutierrez Ortega, Hospital Militar de
Burgos; E Dauden and Y Delgado, Hospital de la Princesa,
Madrid; M Garca Rodrguez, L Trasobares Marugan, S Medina Montalvo, and M Ruano del Salado, Hospital Prncipe de
Asturias, Alcala de Henares, Madrid; C Vidaurrazaga, Hospital
La Paz, Madrid; JL Lopez Estebaranz, E Naz Villalba, and E
Gomez de la Fuente, Fundacion Alcorcon, Alcorcon, Madrid; J
Liron de Robles, Hospital Central de la Defensa, Madrid; JM
Arrazola, C Garca Millan, and L Ros, Hospital Ramon y
Cajal, Madrid; C Zarco and M Gonzalez, Hospital Doce de Octubre, Madrid; P Fernandez Lopez, C Galvan Casas, C Lamoneda Herrern, J Sopena Barona, and E Zamora Martnez,
Dauden
1310
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