Topical tazarotene (0.1 per cent gel) may be useful for treatment of basal cell carcinoma because of its effects on the differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes, say Dr Ketty Peris and colleagues (University of L'Aquila, Italy).
They describe an open-label trial performed on 20 patients, with a total of 30 lesions, in a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine (1999;341:1767). All lesions were treated with tazarotene gel applied once daily for up to eight months. A complete response, defined as the disappearance of the basal cell carcinoma, was achieved after five to eight months for 16 of the 30 lesions, with a partial response in the remaining 14. No recurrence was observed after up to 16 weeks of follow-up (mean 9.6 weeks). Mild local irritation was the main adverse event recorded during treatment. The authors recommend long-term follow-up and studies involving larger numbers of patients to evaluate further treatment with this retinoid.
In the UK, tazarotene (Zorac) is licensed for treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis affecting up to 10 per cent of the body area. Dr Rupert Mason (medical director, Bioglan) told The Journal on December 7 that the company was encouraged by the results of Dr Peris's study. Although no company trials had been undertaken, Bioglan was keen to pursue this indication, as basal cell carcinoma was an indication that needed further therapeutic options.