Our library of drug research abstracts drawn from the medical literature is updated on a regular schedule, and you can be assured that new aldara research articles will be listed here shortly after becoming available to us.
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Medical research on aldara
J Invest Dermatol. 2008 Jul 3;
Kang HY, Park TJ, Jin SH
Imiquimod for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia.
N Engl J Med. 2008 Jul 3; 359(1): 93-4; author reply 94-5
Alouini S, Mathevet P
Comparison of cryotherapy to imiquimod 5% in the treatment of anogenital warts.
Int J STD AIDS. 2008 Jul; 19(7): 441-4
Stefanaki C, Katzouranis I, Lagogianni E, Hagjivassiliou M, Nicolaidou E, Panagiotopoulos A, Anyfantakis V, Bethimoutis G, Eustathios R, Antoniou C, Katsambas A
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of crotherapy versus imiquimod 5% in the treatment of anogenital warts. Eighty HIV-negative males were included in the analysis; 35 of them were treated with imiquimod 5% three times a week for 6-10 hours and 45 of them with cryotherapy once in three weeks. Follow-up appointments were arranged every month for the first three months and then at six and 12 months, or in between whenever the patients noticed any signs of recurrence. Treatment for both groups was continued for a total of 12 weeks or until the warts cleared. At the end of three months, irrespective of the type of treatment, 78.8% of the patients demonstrated 100% improvement. Cryotherapy was more effective, as 86.7% of patients showed 100% improvement compared with 68.6% of patients in the imiquimod group. On the contrary, 17.1% of the imiquimod group did not show any signs of improvement, compared with 2.2% of the cryotherapy group (P = 0.017). However, patients treated with imiquimod tended to improve earlier than patients on cryotherapy (P = 0.012). No statistically significant difference was observed regarding the recurrence rate between the two groups (P = 0.138). Treatment with imiquimod was less painful than cryotherapy (P = 0.034). Cryotherapy was more effective than imiquimod 5% for the treatment of anogenital warts in males but was more inconvenient.
Primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma responds to imiquimod cream.
Eur J Dermatol. 2008 Jun 23; 18(4): 467-468
Ehst BD, Dréno B, Vonderheid EC
Sequential treatment of giant basal cell carcinomas.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2008 Jun 19;
Madan V, West CA, Murphy JV, Lear JT
Treatment of giant basal cell carcinomas (GBCC) can pose several challenges. In such instances, use of routine and recommended treatments for sporadic, average size basal cell carcinomas (BCC) is suboptimal, impractical and often leads to treatment failure. Surgical excision of such large lesions results in marked intra and postoperative morbidity. While individually, photodynamic therapy, topical imiquimod and surgical excision are all established treatments for BCC, their combined use in the treatment of GBCC has not been explored. Three patients with histologically proven GBCC were sequentially treated with three cycles of metvix photodynamic therapy followed by a 6-week course of topical imiquimod. This led to a reduction in the size of these lesions which were subsequently excised.
Presymptomatic differences in Toll-like receptor function in infants who have allergy.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Jun 19;
Prescott SL, Noakes P, Chow BW, Breckler L, Thornton CA, Hollams EM, Ali M, van den Biggelaar AH, Tulic MK
BACKGROUND: Microbial exposure might play a key role in allergy development, but little is known about the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). OBJECTIVE: This study explored the association between neonatal TLR microbial recognition/function, allergy risk (maternal allergy), and prospective allergy development. METHODS: Cord blood mononuclear cells (n = 111) were cultured either alone or with optimal concentrations of TLR ligands: lipoteichoic acid (TLR2), polyinosinicpolycytidylic acid (TLR3), LPS with IFN-gamma (TLR4), flagellin (TLR5), imiquimod R837 (TLR7), or CpG (TLR9). Cytokine responses were assessed in relation to allergy risk (maternal allergy) and allergy outcomes (sensitization, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis) at 12 months of age. RESULTS: Maternal allergy (n = 59) was associated with significantly higher neonatal IL-12 and IFN-gamma responses to TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 activation, whereas TNF-alpha and IL-6 responses to TLR2, TLR4, and TLR5 activation were significantly higher in newborns who subsequently had allergic disease (n = 32). Notably, consistent with previous reports, newborns who had disease had lower T(H)1 IFN-gamma response to mitogens (PHA). CONCLUSION: Allergic disease was associated with increased (rather than decreased) perinatal TLR responses. Further studies are needed to determine how these responses track in the postnatal period and whether this relative hyperresponsiveness is a product of intrauterine influences, including maternal atopy, functional genetic polymorphisms, or both.
J Dermatolog Treat. 2008; 19(3): 159-63
Kose O, Koc E, Erbil AH, Caliskan E, Kurumlu Z
Background: Topical diclofenac and imiquimod have been reported to be effective in the treatment of actinic keratosis, but a study to compare these two drugs has not been reported yet. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of topical 3% diclofenac gel plus hyaluronic acid and 5% imiquimod cream in the treatment of actinic keratosis. Methods: Forty-nine patients with actinic keratosis were enrolled in this randomized comparative open-label study. Twenty-four patients applied 3% diclofenac gel once a daily to their lesions, while the other 25 patients were treated with a 5% imiquimod cream three times a week for 12 weeks. Patients were examined before treatment and every month of the treatment. Assessments were made by investigators according to the Investigator and the Patient Global Improvement Indices (IGII) and (PGII). Results: According to the IGII results, a complete response was observed in 12% of the diclofenac group and 22% of the imiquimod group. For the PGII scores, a complete response was observed in 28% of the diclofenac group and 23% of the imiquimod group. There were no significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated, with most adverse events related to skin. Conclusion: The two drugs were found to be equally effective and safe in the treatment of actinic keratosis but complete remission was very low. Therefore, topical treatments with these two drugs were not seen to be completely effective, and combined therapies and further studies are needed.
J Dermatolog Treat. 2008; 19(3): 156-8
Ezughah FI, Affleck AG, Evans A, Ibbotson SH, Fleming CJ
Background: Although the effectiveness of daily dosing regimens of 5% imiquimod cream for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas (sBCC) has been documented by recent studies, concerns about long-term outcome remain. The majority of efficacy data is based on clinical clearance and limited histological examination which may not identify tumour presence at the periphery. Objective: To assess the efficacy of 5% imiquimod cream for sBCC using detailed histological assessment 1 year after completion of treatment. Methods: Nine individuals with biopsy-proven sBCC treated with 5% imiquimod cream 1 year previously and who remained clinically clear were recruited. Paraffin-embedded excision specimens from the original tumour site were extensively examined by a dermatopathologist. Examination and analysis of frozen sections of the original tumour perimeter using Mohs' micrographic surgery (MMS) were then performed. Results: Eight of nine individuals, 89% (95% CI 56% to 97%) were histologically clear of sBCC at 52 weeks. One individual had a single focus of sBCC at one lateral margin. Conclusion: The results show agreement between the clinical and histological assessment of tumour clearance. However, the persistence of disease in one patient, although limited, indicates the need for cautious long-term follow-up studies on the use of 5% imiquimod cream for sBCC.
J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2008 Jun; 10(2): 81-6
Tierney EP, Eide MJ, Jacobsen G, Ozog D
Background: While there are many available treatments for actinic keratoses (AKs), patient-preferred treatment options remain undefined. Objective: To quantify patient perceptions and preferences in the management of AKs, including comparison of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with other therapies. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 45 patients who had received PDT for AKs in 2005-2006 in the Henry Ford Health System. A series of indicators for each treatment were surveyed, including: recovery time, cosmetic appearance, patient cost, effectiveness, patient satisfaction, treatment option preference, and perceived burden of treatment. Results: A total of 39 of the 45 patients participated (86.7%). A patient's reported recovery time was significantly more likely to be 1 week or less for PDT when compared with cryotherapy (p = 0.02) and surgical excision (p = 0.02). Borderline significance was found for the improved cosmetic outcome in PDT vs. surgical excision (p = 0.058) and for patient satisfaction with PDT compared with 5-fluorouracil (p = 0.058). Patients significantly preferred PDT to 5-fluorouracil (p
J Immunol. 2008 Jul 1; 181(1): 776-84
Adams S, O'Neill DW, Nonaka D, Hardin E, Chiriboga L, Siu K, Cruz CM, Angiulli A, Angiulli F, Ritter E, Holman RM, Shapiro RL, Berman RS, Berner N, Shao Y, Manches O, Pan L, Venhaus RR, Hoffman EW, Jungbluth A, Gnjatic S, Old L, Pavlick AC, Bhardwaj N
T cell-mediated immunity to microbes and to cancer can be enhanced by the activation of dendritic cells (DCs) via TLRs. In this study, we evaluated the safety and feasibility of topical imiquimod, a TLR7 agonist, in a series of vaccinations against the cancer/testis Ag NY-ESO-1 in patients with malignant melanoma. Recombinant, full-length NY-ESO-1 protein was administered intradermally into imiquimod preconditioned sites followed by additional topical applications of imiquimod. The regimen was very well tolerated with only mild and transient local reactions and constitutional symptoms. Secondarily, we examined the systemic immune response induced by the imiquimod/NY-ESO-1 combination, and show that it elicited both humoral and cellular responses in a significant fraction of patients. Skin biopsies were assessed for imiquimod's in situ immunomodulatory effects. Compared with untreated skin, topical imiquimod induced dermal mononuclear cell infiltrates in all patients composed primarily of T cells, monocytes, macrophages, myeloid DCs, NK cells, and, to a lesser extent, plasmacytoid DCs. DC activation was evident. This study demonstrates the feasibility and excellent safety profile of a topically applied TLR7 agonist used as a vaccine adjuvant in cancer patients. Imiquimod's adjuvant effects require further evaluation and likely need optimization of parameters such as formulation, dose, and timing relative to Ag exposure for maximal immunogenicity.