Imiquimod in basal cell carcinoma: how does it work?

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Dummer R, Urosevic M, Kempf W, Hoek K, Hafner J, Burg G

Imiquimod in basal cell carcinoma: how does it work?

Br J Dermatol. 2003 Nov;149 Suppl 66:57-8.

PubMed ID

14616353 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Imiquimod is a topical immune response modifier that binds to Toll-like receptor-7 and -8, inducing interferon-alpha. We treated superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCC) with imiquimod 5% cream daily for 5-8 days. The BCC lesions were biopsied before treatment and following imiquimod treatment, when the lesion showed the signs of erosion. We applied histology, immunohistochemistry and gene array technology (Affymetrix) to gain further insight into the mode of action of imiquimod. Our findings demonstrate that imiquimod-induced BCC regression is associated with a strong activity of the innate immune response, mediated by cells of macrophage-monocyte origin and is associated with the induction of apoptosis.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Imiquimod	Toll-like receptor 7	Protein	Humans	Yes	Agonist	Details
Imiquimod	Toll-like receptor 8	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Agonist	Details