Abstract
Giant basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is defined as a tumor with a diameter of 5 cm or more. Surgery, the treatment of choice for any type of BCC, can cause considerable anatomical damage in large tumors. In 2 patients with giant BCC we therefore provided neoadjuvant treatment with a combination of oral acitretin and topical 5% imiquimod. Acitretin is a systemic retinoid used for primary prevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Imiquimod is an immunomodulator whose approved indications include treatment of nonfacial superficial BCC less than 2 cm in diameter. Previous studies have demonstrated a synergic anticancer effect of both drugs in vitro and in vivo. This combination produced a marked reduction in tumor mass in our patients. Later we were able to provide definitive treatment, which achieved complete remission of the tumors.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. and AEDV. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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Acitretin / administration & dosage
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Acitretin / therapeutic use*
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Administration, Cutaneous
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Administration, Oral
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Aged
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Aminoquinolines / administration & dosage
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Aminoquinolines / therapeutic use*
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
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Carcinoma, Basal Cell / complications
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Carcinoma, Basal Cell / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Basal Cell / radiotherapy
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Carcinoma, Basal Cell / surgery
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Facial Neoplasms / complications
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Facial Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Facial Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Female
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Humans
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Imiquimod
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Neoadjuvant Therapy*
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Psoriasis / complications
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Remission Induction
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Skin Neoplasms / complications
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Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Skin Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Skin Neoplasms / surgery
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Skin Ulcer / etiology
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Thoracic Neoplasms / complications
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Thoracic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Thoracic Neoplasms / surgery
Substances
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Aminoquinolines
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Acitretin
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Imiquimod