Immune Response Modifier Therapy: Advances in the Management of AK and BCC

A supplement to Skin & Allergy News supported by a restricted grant from 3M Pharmaceuticals. This supplement was jointly sponsored by Excerpta Medica, Inc., an ACCME accredited provider, and Skin & Allergy News.
Highlights from presentations that took place at the 9thWorld Congress on Cancers of the Skin in Seville, Spain.

•Contents
•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 15.

Contents

Introduction: The Role of Immune Response Modifier Therapy in Actinic Keratosis and Basal Cell Carcinoma
Francisco Camacho-Martinez, MD, PhD (Co-Chair)
Chairman, Department of Medical-Surgical Dermatology
Hospital Virgen Macarena
University of Seville
Seville, Spain
Nothing to disclose.

Treatment of Actinic Keratosis and Basal Cell Carcinoma: Today and Tomorrow
Stuart J. Salasche, MD (Co-Chair)
Clinical Professor of Dermatology
University of Arizona, Tucson
Consultant: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for basal cell carcinoma.

Immunomodulation: An Update on Proposed Mechanisms of Action in Basal Cell Carcinoma
David Vidal, MD, and Prof. Agustin Alomar
Staff Physicians, Department of Dermatology
Hospital de Sant Pau
Barcelona, Spain
Dr. Vidal has no conflicts of interest to report. Discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma.

Immune Response Modifier Therapy in Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Studies and Experience
Amit G. Pandya, MD
Associate Professor, Dermatology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
Funded Clinical Research: 3M Pharmaceuticals. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for basal cell carcinoma.

Actinic Keratosis: Newer Concepts for a Comprehensive Management Approach
Joseph L. Jorizzo, MD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Dermatology
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Clinical Grants: 3M Pharmaceuticals and Dermik Laboratories. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for the treatment of actinic keratoses.

New Horizons in the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma: Noninvasive Treatment and Monitoring
Abel Torres, MD, JD
Associate Professor of Dermatology
Chair, Division of Dermatology
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.
Consultant: 3M Pharmaceuticals; Clinical Grants: 3M Pharmaceuticals and Lucid, Inc. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod for the treatment of actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma.

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 and basel cell carcinoma.

Educational Needs

The incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers is high and is increasing. Heretofore, the treatments for these lesions have been primarily limited to surgical modalities, which have the common side effect of scarring and which are associated with recurrences, that require lifelong monitoring of patients and, commonly, repeated surgical intervention. The development of the immune response modifier imiquimod seems to offer a topical, noninvasive approach to the treatment of basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis, the latter newly recognized as a lesion on a continuum that may lead to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. This activity provides dermatologists with current information regarding imiquimod's mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety, and introduces conjugated focal plane (confocal) microscopy, a new method for noninvasive monitoring of patients with basal cell carcinoma.

Learning Objectives

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

• Current and emerging therapies in the treatment of actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma.

• Five clinical studies that have been published to date on the use of immune response modifier therapy in patients with basal cell carcinoma.

• The proposed mechanism of action of immune response modifier therapy in basal cell carcinoma.

• The benefits and experience to date with conjugated focal place (confocal) microscopy for monitoring basal cell carcinoma.

• Actinic keratosis and the potential for development of invasive squamous cell carcinoma.

• Current evidence for the efficacy of immune response modifier therapy in the treatment of actinic keratosis.

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Excerpta Medica, Inc. and Skin & Allergy News. Excerpta Medica is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Excerpta Medica designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

The American Medical Association has determined that non-US licensed physicians who participate in this activity are eligible for AMA/Physician's Recognition Award category 1 credit.

Term of Approval: September 2003-September 2004.

Copyright © 2003 by International Medical News Group

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