Skin Cancer Drugs

Skin Cancer Drugs
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Aldara (Imiquimod)

Aldara is the brand name of imiquimod, a topical drug used both to treat and to prevent the most common skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma. Superficial basal cell carcinomas, a cancer confined to the surface of the skin, can be treated with Aldara skin cream. Aldara cream may also prescribed for an actinic keratosis, a precursor of basal cell carcinoma, in order to prevent the cancer from developing.

Imiquimod is an immune modifier. Its action is not completely understood, but according to animal studies, it may work by stimulating the skin cells to produce cytokines, chemicals used by the immune systemAldara for communication.

Side effects of Aldara include a range of skin symptoms, including itching, flaking, pain, ulcers, and swelling. Less commonly, it can cause headaches, muscle aches, flu-like symptoms, and diarrhea. It may increase the sensitivity of skin to the sun, and can worsen a sunburn or other skin inflammation.

Efudex (Fluorouracil)

Fluorouracil, also called 5-FU and f5U, is a chemotherapy drug that can be applied topically for the same indications as Aldara: actinic keratosis and superficial basal cell carcinoma. The topical form is marketed under the brand name Efudex. Its mechanism is different from Aldara’s; it is an antimetabolite, which means it interferes with cell growth. Rapidly dividing cells such as cancer cells are vulnerable to antimetabolites.

Since it works by killing cells, the skin around the site where fluorouracil is applied is normally red and painful. Severe side effects are uncommon, but can include fever, chills, and stomach pain.

Zolinza (Vorinostat)

Zolinza is the brand name of vorinostat, which is used to treat cutaneous T cell lymphoma. This cancer technically affects the immune system, but the affected cells are found in skin lesions. Vorinostat is an oral medication used to stop the growth of the cancerous cells.

Zolinza has a number of possible side effects, including gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, muscle aches, fever, edema, dry mouth, and dizziness. More serious possible side effects are chest pain, shortness of breath, tachycardia, and bleeding problems. Zolinza can also raise blood sugar in diabetics, so these patients should monitor their blood sugar carefully while taking the drug.

DTIC (Dacarbazine)

DTIC is the brand name of dacarbazine, a chemotherapy drug injected into patients to treat malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma is the rarest and deadliest form of skin cancer. Like many chemotherapy drugs, dacarbazine is a highly toxic drug and has severe side effects. The worst of these potential side effects are severe liver damage and a reduction in the number of white blood cells. Dacarbazine may even cause other types of cancer, but the risks of dacarbazine must be weighed with the risk of allowing malignant melanoma to spread.

Experimental Skin Cancer Drugs

Myristyl nicotinate is an experimental drug derived from niacin (vitamin B3). It is being tested as a treatment for actinic keratosis to prevent basal cell carcinoma (Fischer 2007).

The most recent news from the world skin cancer drug research is the possibility of a new treatment for malignant melanoma derived from tadpoles. This drug would be able to stop the uncontrolled movement of pigment cells, whose growth is out of control in melanoma (Fuchs 2009).

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