Topical 5-fluorouracil in dermatologic disease

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oncology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an established therapy for dermatologic conditions.
• It is FDA-approved for actinic keratoses and superficial basal cell carcinoma.
• 5-FU shows efficacy in treating other skin diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the evidence for topical 5-FU in dermatology.
• To summarize disease-specific efficacy and evidence levels.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases.
• Included 34 articles: 16 randomized controlled trials and 18 case series.

Main Results:

• Thirty-four articles met inclusion criteria for the review.
• Data from RCTs and case series were summarized.
• Efficacy and evidence levels varied across dermatologic conditions.

Conclusions:

• Topical 5-FU demonstrates varied efficacy and evidence levels for dermatologic diseases.
• The strongest evidence supports its use for actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma.
• This review provides a comprehensive summary of topical 5-FU in dermatology.