This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Acne Cream May Prevent Skin Cancer.
Oct. 18, 2002 -- Skin cancer is the most common malignancy. New research shows that a prescription cream -- derived from vitamin A -- commonly used to treat acne and psoriasis may help prevent skin cancer in some people predisposed to the disease.
Pills consisting of vitamin A derivatives -- such as the acne drug Accutane -- have been shown to shrink tumors. But at the necessary doses for skin cancer, their side effects are often too much to bear, says lead investigator Ervin Epstein Jr., MD, clinical professor and research dermatologist at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco. But newer retinoid creams, such as Tazorac, may provide a safer alternative for cancer prevention in those at risk.
In mice exposed to UV radiation three times a week over an 11-month study, the number and size of skin cancers was 85% smaller in mice treated with Tazaroccompared with those not treated with the vitamin A derivative.
In order to help measure the full impact of what the cream is capable of, the researchers used mice were that served as a model for people with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), also known as Gorlin's syndrome. People with this rare condition have a much higher risk of basal cell carcinoma, the most common -- although usually not fatal -- form of skin cancer typically caused by excessive sun exposure.
Epstein presented his findings this week at the American Association for Cancer Research's annual meeting on prevention research.
Tazorac is often used to heal severe facial acne, partly by keeping skin pores clear. It also works in treating psoriasis by reducing skin redness and the number and size of lesions. The medication may cause minor side effects such as skin irritation and peeling, but doesn't result in the serious side effects of oral retinoids, which include liver problems and elevated blood fat and cholesterol levels.
News of Epstein's study was met with great optimism by experts, some of whom expressed hope that the finding could benefit others at high risk of developing skin tumors, such as organ transplant patients and people who have had skin cancer before.
"This is a great discovery because we often use oral retinoids to prevent skin cancers in high-risk patients, but they do have serious side effects," James Spencer, MD, vice chairman of the dermatology department at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, tells WebMD. "I normally wouldn't recommend Accutane to these high-risk patients because of its serious side effects. But I could put them on a cream because it's safe. Tazaroc may cause an increased risk of sunburn, but it's not as though you can't walk through a parking lot."
American Academy of Dermatology spokesman Darrell Rigel, MD agrees. "This is the first time that something has been shown to work topically on basal cell carcinomas," he tells WebMD. "If these results can be extrapolated to humans, it could be a significant breakthrough."
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Important Safety Information
- KAPIDEX may not be right for everyone. You should not take KAPIDEX if you are allergic to KAPIDEX or any of its ingredients. Severe allergic reactions have been reported.
- Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
- The most common side effects of KAPIDEX were diarrhea (4.8%), stomach pain (4.0%), nausea (2.9%), common cold (1.9%), vomiting (1.6%), and gas (1.6%). KAPIDEX and certain other medicines can affect each other. Before taking KAPIDEX, tell your doctor if you are taking ampicillin, atazanavir, digoxin, iron, ketoconazole, or tacrolimus. If you are taking KAPIDEX with warfarin, you may need to be monitored because serious risks could occur.
Uses of KAPIDEX
- Persistent heartburn two or more days a week, despite treatment and diet changes, could be acid reflux disease (ARD). Prescription KAPIDEX capsules are used in adults to treat heartburn related to ARD, to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (called erosive esophagitis or EE), and to stop EE from coming back. Individual results may vary. Most damage (erosions) heals in 4–8 weeks.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional. Please see full Prescribing Information for KAPIDEX.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
KAPIDEX™ is a trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., and is used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
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