The Journal of investigative dermatology
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J. Invest. Dermatol. · Jun 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTretinoin and the prevention of keratinocyte carcinoma (Basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin): a veterans affairs randomized chemoprevention trial.
Keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) is the most common cancer in the United States, with no proven means for prevention other than systemic retinoids, which have significant toxicity, and sunscreen. Topical tretinoin has been used for KC chemoprevention, although this use is unproven. Hence, we conducted the randomized Veterans Affairs Topical Tretinoin Chemoprevention Trial of high-dose topical tretinoin for KC prevention. ⋯ No differences were observed in any cancer-related end points or in actinic keratosis counts. The only quality of life difference was worse symptoms in the tretinoin group at 12 months after randomization. This trial in high-risk patients demonstrates that high-dose topical tretinoin is ineffective at reducing risk of KCs.