Mediators of Inflammation in Topical Therapy of Skin Cancers

Mediators Inflamm. 2019 Jan 10:2019:8369690. doi: 10.1155/2019/8369690. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Taking into consideration that the immune system plays a very important role in the development of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, which have a high prevalence in immunosuppressed patients and after prolonged ultraviolet radiation, the interest in developing novel therapies, in particular targeting the inflammation in cancer, has increased in the past years. The latest data suggest that therapies such as imiquimod (IMQ), ingenol mebutate (IM), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), retinoids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used with success in the topical treatment of some cancers. Herein, we review the topical treatment targeting the inflammation in skin cancer and the mechanisms involved in these processes. Currently, various associations have shown a superior success rate than monotherapy, such as systemic acitretin and topical IMQ, topical 5-FU with tretinoin cream, or IMQ with checkpoint inhibitor cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4. Novel therapies targeting Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR-7) with higher selectivity than IMQ are also of great interest.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical*
  • Aminoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cytokines
  • Diterpenes / therapeutic use
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Imiquimod / therapeutic use
  • Inflammation
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism

Substances

  • 3-ingenyl angelate
  • Aminoquinolines
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Diterpenes
  • TLR7 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Imiquimod
  • Fluorouracil