Skin Cancer

R.P. Haydey

Reference

•  The Surgical Clinics of North America, Malignant Melanoma, Part 1, February 2003

Cancer Statistics.2004

•  Estimated 145,000 new cases of cancer in Canada in 2004

•  Estimated 68,300 cancer deaths in Canada in 2004

Cancer vs. Skin Cancer

•  Total number of cancer patients. 145,000

•  50,000 of these will be skin cancer patients

Skin Cancer Statistics 2004

•  Basal cell carcinoma (BCE). 38,000

•  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). 7,800

•  Malignant melanoma (MM). 4,200 / 850

What Causes Skin Cancer?

•  Sunburn (UVB) causes permanent damage to the DNA of skin cells

•  Chronic light exposure (UVA) damages the skin's immunosurveillance system

•  20 - 30 years after the sunburn, skin cancers begin to form

Immunosurveillance

•  How the body protects itself from cancer and infection

Immune Response Modifier

•  Something that will enhance the bodies natural ability to heal

•  Something that can enhance immunosurveillance

Cream, AldaraT (imiquimod ) 5%

Imiquimod (Aldara)

•  Is an immune response modifier

•  Indirectly enhances the bodies natural ability to heal.

•  Induces innate and cell mediated pathways

•  Stimulation of these immune pathways leads to the synthesis and release of cytokines

Human Immunity

Cytokine Production

•  Interferon- a

•  Tumour necrosis factor- a

•  Interferon- g

•  Interleukin-12

Enhanced Cell Activity

•  Natural killer cells

•  Macrophages

•  B lymphocytes

•  Langerhans cells

Skin CancersProven to Respond to Aldara

•  Actinic keratosis (AK)

•  Actinic cheilitis

•  Superficial basal cell carcinoma (SBCE)

Skin Cancers Which May Respond to Aldara

•  Basal cell carcinoma (BCE)

•  Squamous cell carcinoma insitu (Bowen's disease

•  Squamous cell carcinoma

•  Lentigo maligna

•  Lentigo maligna melanoma

•  Melanoma

•  Cutneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)

•  Cutaneous extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD)