Triple therapy with intralesional 5-fluorouracil, chemowraps, and acitretin: A well-tolerated option for treatment of widespread cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas on the legs

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Iviensan F. Manalo, Emory University; Michael Lowe, Emory University; Kelly C. Nelson, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Suephy Chen, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-12-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2019 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier, Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jdcr.2019.08.008
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JAAD Case Reports
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 12
• Start Page: 1051
• End Page: 1054
• Grant/Funding Information: None
• Keywords: leg; chemowrap; triple therapy; squamous cell carcinomas; 5-FU; radiation; non-surgical; therapy; treatment fatigue
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

Multifocal ill-defined and confluently distributed squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) on actinically damaged legs can be therapeutically challenging. Additionally, patients may have treatment fatigue or be poor candidates for extensive surgery or radiation. Women, in particular, with multiple SCCs of the legs have this striking clinical phenotype.1 Acitretin, intralesional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and 5-FU chemowraps have each alone shown efficacy in preventing or treating SCCs; however, their combined effectiveness has never been reported. We present 2 cases using combined triple therapy to treat widespread SCCs on the legs, illustrating a promising option for patients unwilling or unable to undergo surgery.