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The efficacy of imiquimod on dysplastic lesions of the oral mucosa: an experimental model
Vasiliki Gkoulioni1, Anna Eleftheriadou, Ioannis Yiotakis
1Center of Experimental Surgery, Foundation of Biomedical Research, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Aim:
To study the potent efficacy of the immunomodulatory agent imiquimod when applied on dysplastic lesions of the oral mucosa.
Materials And Methods:
Carcinogen (DMBA) was applied to the mucosa of the left buccal pouch of 26 male Wistar rats for 8 weeks, until dysplastic lesions were observed and histologically diagnosed. At the second phase of the experiment, 5% imiquimod cream was applied to these dysplastic lesions for 16 weeks. Biopsies were taken before and after treatment.
Results:
The histological effect of imiquimod was the regression of mild dysplasia to hyperplasia for all the samples. In one case, a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was converted to a papilloma-like squamous neoplasm with a benign morphology.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that imiquimod may be effective in treatment of precancerous lesions of the oral mucosa and thus inhibit the progress of carcinogenesis.
