[Evaluation of oral retinoid preventive action on human cutaneous epitheliomas (author's transl)]

Beneficial effects of oral retinoids in prophylaxis of epithelial neoplasias have been demonstrated by experimental works. In this study oral retinoid (RO 10-9359) was used in human dermatosis with high frequency of cutaneous malignancies: xeroderma pigmentosum with or without malignant neoplasias, Mibelli's porokeratosis with multifocal malignant degeneration, basal cell naevus syndrome with basal cell carcinomas, familial epithelioma of Ferguson-Smith and actinic keratosis. This work started in december 1977. Visible epitheliomas have been treated before trial. Initial dose of retinoid was 1 mg/kg daily, decreased depending on individual tolerance. Results were appreciated by comparising number of epitheliomas observed in years preceding retinoid therapy and number of them appearing during treatment; in two familial cases (basal cell naevus syndrom in twins and xeroderma pigmentosum in two brothers) comparison was made between treated and untreated patients. First results are very promising: an excellent response on solar keratosis is noted; epitheliomas occurrence seems actually to be prevented or delayed by oral retinoid therapy. Of course more numerous cases, a longer time, periods without treatment are necessary to confirm these interesting first results. On the other hand drug is not with this dose active on already constituted carcinomas.