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Topical treatment of actinic keratoses with potassium dobesilate 5% cream. a preliminary open-label study
Pedro Cuevas Sánchez1, W Espinoza, C Pérez
1Servicio de Histologia, IRYCIS, Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Ctra. de Colmenar km. 9.100, 28034-Madrid, Spain. pedro.cuevas@hrc.es
Background:
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is involved in skin tumorigenesis: it promotes cell viability, induces angiogenesis and stimulates invasiveness. Dobesilate is a drug that blocks the activity of FGF. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of potassium dobesilate 5% cream in the treatment of actinic keratoses.
Methods:
Potassium dobesilate 5% cream was applied twice daily for 16 weeks to actinic keratosis lesions in 30 patients. The lesions were evaluated clinically at an initial baseline visit, at intermediate visits, and at 16 weeks of treatment. -
Results:
The use of potassium dobesilate 5% cream for 16 weeks induced complete regression in 70% of evaluated actinic keratoses, corresponding to grade I, II and III clinical variants, and a partial response (at least 75% reduction of lesions) in 20% of the cases.
Conclusion:
Our preliminary trial shows that potassium dobesilate exerts anti-tumorigenic effects and may play a useful role in the chemoprevention of skin cancers.
Insights
Potassium dobesilate 5% cream effectively treated actinic keratoses, with 70% complete regression. This fibroblast growth factor inhibitor shows promise for skin cancer chemoprevention.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) promotes skin tumor development, including cell viability, angiogenesis, and invasiveness.
- Potassium dobesilate inhibits FGF activity.
- Actinic keratoses are common precancerous skin lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of potassium dobesilate 5% cream for treating actinic keratoses.
- To assess the anti-tumorigenic effects of potassium dobesilate in skin cancer chemoprevention.
Main Methods:
- 30 patients with actinic keratoses applied potassium dobesilate 5% cream twice daily for 16 weeks.
- Clinical evaluation of lesions at baseline, intermediate visits, and 16 weeks.
Main Results:
- Complete regression of actinic keratoses was observed in 70% of patients after 16 weeks of treatment.
- Partial response (≥75% lesion reduction) was achieved in 20% of cases.
- The treatment was effective across clinical variants of actinic keratoses (grades I, II, and III).
Conclusions:
- Potassium dobesilate 5% cream demonstrates significant anti-tumorigenic effects.
- Potassium dobesilate may serve as a valuable agent in the chemoprevention of skin cancers.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.
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