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Does progression from actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease end with treatment: diclofenac 3% gel, an old drug in a new environment?
Author(s) -
Patel M. J.,
Stockfleth E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2007.07859.x
Subject(s) - diclofenac , actinic keratosis , medicine , keratosis , dermatology , drug , pharmacology , pathology , basal cell
Summary Progression from actinic keratosis (AK) and Bowen's disease (BD) to invasive disease involves a complex cascade of events. The preparation of diclofenac 3% gel (Solaraze™; Shire Pharmaceuticals) has been shown to be efficacious and well tolerated in AK. The inhibition of the COX enzymes results in a decrease in downstream by‐products of arachidonic acid metabolism. These metabolites have been shown to play a pivotal role in promoting epithelial tumour growth. Given its mechanism of action, we hypothosize that diclofenac 3% gel may have potential to halt the progression of actinic keratoses (AKs) in the setting of field cancerisation and BD. We report a series of five patients with BD, all treated with diclofenac 3% gel with clinical and histological clearance.