Background: The cyclo-oxygenase enzymes 1 and 2 (COX-1 and COX-2) are both involved in skin tumorigenesis, causing inhibition of apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasiveness, recruitment of growth factors, immunosuppression, and production of carcinogens. Piroxicam is a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that blocks the activity of COX-1 and COX-2.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of piroxicam 1% gel in the treatment of actinic keratoses.
Methods: Piroxicam 1% gel was applied twice daily for 12 weeks to 31 actinic keratoses. The lesions were evaluated clinically and by means of dermoscopy at an initial baseline visit, at intermediate visits, and after 90 days. Changes were evaluated using a new scoring system (AKESA), based on the clinical presence of erythema, scale, and atrophy on a target lesion. In our experience, the use of piroxicam 1% gel for 90 days induced complete regression in 48% of evaluated actinic keratoses, corresponding to keratotic and verrucous clinical variants. In these lesions, the AKESA score was markedly reduced after treatment. Adverse effects were pruritus, mild erythema, dry skin, and, rarely, rash. Our preliminary trial shows that piroxicam exerts anti-tumorigenic effects and may play a useful role in the chemoprevention of skin cancers.