Dermatologic Dilemmas: The Role of Immune Response Modifiers in Challenging Cases

A supplement to Skin & Allergy News supported by a restricted educational grant from 3M Pharmaceuticals.
Highlights of presentations developed from a roundtable discussion that took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

•Topics
•Faculty
•Scientific Advisory Board
•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 18.

Topics

Foreword

Introduction

Actinic Keratosis

Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Nose

Bowen's Disease

Extramammary Paget's Disease

Molluscum Contagiosum

Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma

Recommended Additional Reading on Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers

Nonmelanoma Lesion in a Renal Transplant Patient

Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma

Verruca Vulgaris of the Digits

Conclusion
Faculty

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

Brian Berman, MD, PhD
Professor of Dermatology & Internal Medicine
Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery
University of Miami School of Medicine
Clinical Grants and Consultant to 3M. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating various dermatological conditions (keloids, BCC, actinic keratoses {AK}, warts).

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

Theodore Rosen, MD
Professor of Dermatology
Department of Dermatology
Baylor College of Medicine
Chief of Dermatology
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Houston
Clinical Grants and Consultant to 3M. Discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating intraepidermal SCC and molluscum contagiosum.
Scientific Advisory Board

Todd S. Anhalt, MD
Clinical Professor of Dermatology
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford
Consultant: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Peter I. Babinski, MD, PhD
Voluntary Assistant Professor
Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery
University of Miami School of Medicine
Miami, FL
Nothing to disclose.

Neal D. Bhatia, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor
University of California-San Diego
Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group
Chula Vista, CA
Speakers' Bureau: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating skin cancer.

May J. Chow, MD
Prairie Medical Group
Chicago Heights, IL
She discusses the unlabeled and investigational use of imiquimod for treating BCC.

Michael A. Huie, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology
University of California-San Francisco
He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating superficial BCC.

Thomas W. McGovern, MD
Fort Wayne Dermatology, P.C.
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Speakers' Bureau: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating SCC in situ, BCC, AK, and Keloid prevention.

Amit G. Pandya, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas
Clinical Grants and Speakers' Bureau: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabled use of imiquimod for treating superficial basal cell carcinoma.

William I. Roth, MD
Boynton Medical Arts Center
Boynton Beach, FL
Clinical Grants and Speakers' Bureau: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabled use of imiquimod for treating intraepithelial SCC.

Jason L. Smith, MD
Northwest Georgia Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center
Rome
He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating BCC.

Jeffrey M. Weinberg, MD
Directgor, Dermatology Clinical Research Center
St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center
New York, NY
Clinical Grants and Speakers' Bureau: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for treating volvar intraepitheliam neoplasia.
Target Audience

Dermatologists and other clinicians who treat patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers, actinic keratoses, and lesions caused by cutaneous viruses.

Educational Needs

Since the introduction of immune response modifier therapy and the approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the first topical drug in that class, imiquimod, for use in the treatment of genial warts, dermatologists have watched the literature with great interest for further research in this new area of therapy. Many clinicians throughout the United States and abroad are aware of the clinical trials that have been conducted and are currently under way using topical imiquimod to treat a variety of diseases, including nongenital warts, nonmelanoma skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma), and actinic keratosis. Difficult cases—such as those presented in this supplement—are those in which standard treatment has not worked or for some other reason is deemed inappropriate for specific patients. It is important for physicians to know what the currently available data demonstrate concerning these investigational uses for imiquimod.

Learning Objectives

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

• List and explain the factors that make each of the cases presented in this supplement clinically challenging.

• Discuss the utility of immune modification—including both immune response modifiers (IRMs) and topical immune response modifiers (TIMs)—in difficult dermatologic cases.

• List and describe alternatives to standard therapies fore the treatment of patients with difficult dermatologic conditions.

Accreditation

Skin & Allergy News Dermatologic Dilemmas: The Role of Immune Response Modifiers in Challenging Cases is recognized by the American Academy of Dermatology for 1 hour of AAD Category 1 credit and may be used toward the American Academy of Dermatology's Continuing Medical Education Award.

Term of approval: February 2003-February 2004.

Copyright © 2003 by International Medical News Group

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