The Journal of investigative dermatology
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J. Invest. Dermatol. · Dec 2009
Regular sunscreen use is a cost-effective approach to skin cancer prevention in subtropical settings.
In many developed countries, total costs to health systems for cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are among the highest of all cancers, yet the investment value of preventive measures remains unknown. Using primary data from a randomized controlled trial, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of a skin cancer prevention initiative based on regular sunscreen use. ⋯ These health outcomes required an annual average investment of USD 0.74 per person and saved the Australian government a total of USD 88,203 in health-care costs over the same period. Such community-based interventions promoting regular sunscreen use among Caucasians in subtropical settings can prevent skin cancer and related skin tumors in practical ways and with great cost efficiency.
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J. Invest. Dermatol. · Oct 2008
Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses collagen production and proliferation in keloid fibroblasts via inhibition of the STAT3-signaling pathway.
Keloids are benign skin tumors characterized by collagen accumulation and hyperproliferation of fibroblasts. To find an effective therapy for keloids, we explored the pharmacological potential of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a widely investigated tumor-preventive agent. When applied to normal and keloid fibroblasts (KFs) in vitro, proliferation and migration of KFs were more strongly suppressed by EGCG than normal fibroblast proliferation and migration (IC(50): 54.4 microM (keloid fibroblast (KF)) versus 63.0 microM (NF)). ⋯ We also found that treatment with EGCG suppressed growth and collagen production in the in vivo keloid model. This study demonstrates that EGCG suppresses the pathological characteristics of keloids through inhibition of the STAT3-signaling pathway. We propose that EGCG has potential in the treatment and prevention of keloids.
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J. Invest. Dermatol. · Sep 2008
Tie2-R849W mutant in venous malformations chronically activates a functional STAT1 to modulate gene expression.
Tie2 is an endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase. An amino-acid substitution of tryptophan for arginine at residue 849 (Tie2-R849W) leads to a ligand-independent activation of its kinase activity. This mutation has been associated with familial venous malformations (VMs), manifested by variable thickness or lack of smooth-muscle cells in the veins of patient lesions. ⋯ We further demonstrated that Tie2-R849W chronically induced STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation and the promoter activity of STAT1-responsive IFN-regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). Although STAT1 phosphorylation required JNK and p38MAPK activation, only JNK activation was essential for IRF1 promoter activation by Tie2-R849W. Additional studies are needed to study the role of STAT1 activation in VMs.
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J. Invest. Dermatol. · Aug 2008
Imiquimod leads to a decrease of human papillomavirus DNA and to a sustained clearance of anal intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-infected men.
Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), a human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated precursor lesion of anal carcinoma, is highly prevalent in HIV-infected men having sex with men (MSM). This prospective follow-up study evaluated the long-term results of imiquimod treatment of AIN in 19 HIV-infected MSM. Standardized follow-up examinations included high-resolution anoscopy, anal cytology/histology, HPV typing, and DNA load determination for HPV types 16, 18, 31, and 33. ⋯ During follow-up, 58% of all patients (11/19) developed new anal cytological abnormalities in previously normal, untreated anal regions. 55% of these new AIN lesions were high-grade lesions and most of them were located intra-anally and associated with high-risk HPV types not detectable before therapy. These results demonstrate that imiquimod leads to a high rate of long-term clearance of AIN in HIV-positive men together with a prolonged decrease of high-risk HPV-DNA load. However, new AIN lesions associated with previously undetected HPV types frequently occur in untreated areas.