Current World Views on Actinic Keratoses: Natural History and Recent Treatments

A supplement to Skin & Allergy News supported by an unrestricted educational grant from 3M Pharmaceuticals.
This continuing medical education supplement was developed from a roundtable discussion that took place in Paris, France.

•Topics
•Faculty
•Target Audience
•Educational Needs
•Learning Objectives
•Accreditation

To view the supplement, click the image above. To take the CME test, download and print out the PDF file, and follow the test instructions on page 16.

Topics

Epidemiology of AK: A World View
Characterizing AKs: Carcinoma in Situ?
Issues in Treatment: US and International
Treatment of Special Populations: The Immunocompromised Patient and Others
Immune Response Modifiers: Additional Discussion
Reimbursement Issues
Concluding Remarks
Faculty

Howard I. Maibach, MD
Professor of Dermatology
Department of Dermatology
University of California
San Francisco, CA
Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Camacho-Martinez, MD
Chairman, Department of Medical-Surgical Dermatology
Hospital Virgen Macarena
University of Seville
Seville, Spain
Nothing to disclose.

Stephen P. Shumack, MD
Head, Department of Dermatology
St. George Hospital
University of New South Wales
Sydney, Australia
Research Grants: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled and investigational use of imiquimod for the treatment of AK, BCC, and Bowen's disease.

Anthony A. Gaspari, MD
Professor of Dermatology
Department of Dermatology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
Discusses the unlabeled and investigational use of imiquimod for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer and actinic keratosis (AK).

James M. Spencer, MD
Vice Chairman and Associate Professor
Department of Dermatology
Mount Sinai Medical Center
New York, NY
Research Grants: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod as topical use for AK.

Richard Allen Johnson, MD
Instructor in Dermatology
Harvard Medical School
Clinical Associate in Dermatology
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Clinical Grants: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled and investigational use of imiquimod for treating AK, squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SSCIS), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Dr. Med. Eggert Stockfleth
Professor, Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy
University Clinic
University of Berlin School of Medicine
Berlin, Germany
Clinical Grants: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled and investigational use of imiquimod.
Target Audience

This activity has been developed for dermatologists and other health care professionals who are involved in the treatment of patients with actinic keratosis (AK) and nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Educational Needs

Actinic keratosis (AK), a proliferation of neoplastic keratinocytes, are treated because of their potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Immunocompromised patients, such as individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those who have undergone organ transplantation, have an especially high rate of malignant transformation. Because of the long-term potential sequelae that may be associated with Aks, clinicians must have available the most current information from around the world regarding both research and clinical experience with the natural history and treatment advances in the treatment of these lesions.

Learning Objectives

By reading and studying this supplement, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the epidemiology of actinic keratoses (Aks), including the data from the United States, Australia, and the European Union.

• Explain what is currently known about the etiopathogenesis of AK, as well as the potential for natural progression of AK to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and other nonmelanoma skin cancers.

• List and describe the major issues in treatment that clinicians face today throughout the world.

• Describe the research advances in the past decade that have helped clinicians understand and prevent AK progression to nonmelanoma skin cancer in immunocompromised and other high-risk populations.

• Discuss the current treatment options for AK, including the newer modalities such as photodynamic therapy and immune response modulation with imiquimod, and how reimbursement issues have affected therapeutic choices in various countries.

Accreditation

The American Academy of Dermatology certifies that this educational activity has been recognized for 1 hour of AAD Category 1 credit and may be used toward the American Academy of Dermatology's Continuing Medical Education Award. This program was developed in accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education guidelines. Term of approval: October 15, 2002–October 15, 2003.

Copyright © 2002 by International Medical News Group

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