Managing Actinic Keratoses: A Review of Recent Advances

A supplement to Skin & Allergy News supported by an educational grant from 3M Pharmaceuticals. This supplement was jointly sponsored by The Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education (EOCME), an ACCME accredited provider, and Skin & Allergy News.
The articles in this supplement are based on presentations made at a continuing medical education program held September 17, 2005, in New York, N.Y.

For more information on the Managing Actinic Keratoses archived Webcast and to see the slide clinic program, please click here:www.managingactinickeratoses.com.

•Topics
•Faculty
•Target Audience
•Educational Needs
•Educational Objectives
•CME Recognition

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

• Introduction

• Today's View of Actinic Keratosis: A Snapshot

• The Scientific Basis of Skin Cancer

• Management of Actinic Keratoses: Current Options and Patient Selection

• When and Why Should Actinic Keratoses Be Treated?

• Imiquimod in AKs: A Study of Cosmetic Outcomes

Faculty

Chairman
James M. Spencer, MD, MS
Professor of Clinical Dermatology
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York, N.Y.
Private Practice
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Consultant: Connetics Corporation and PhotoMedex, Inc; Speaker's Bureau: 3M and Doak Dermatologics.

Mark H. Goldgeier, MD, FAAD, FABIM, FACP
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Rochester Medical Center
Private Practice
Rochester, N.Y.
Attending physician to patients with the diseases to be discussed. He is a participant in 3M Pharmaceuticals-sponsored phase IIIB and IV imiquimod trials for AKs, and has received grant/research support from 3M. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod.

Arielle N.B. Kauvar, MD
Director
New York Laser and Skin Care Center
Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology
NYU School of Medicine
New York, N.Y.
Co-Director of Procedural Dermatology
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Nothing to disclose.

Albert M. Kligman, MD, PhD
Professor of Dermatology
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia
Nothing to disclose. He discusses the unlabeled use of imiquimod.

Daniel M. Siegel, MD, MS
Clinical Professor of Dermatology
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Private Practice
Smithtown, N.Y.
Consultant/Speaker's Bureau/Stock Shareholder: 3M; Speaker's Bureau: Dermik Laboratories. He discusses the unlabeled uses of—that is, alternative dosing schedules for—diclofenac, imiquimod, and 5-fluorouracil, in the treatment of AKs.

Target Audience

This activity has been developed for dermatologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of actinic keratosis (AKs).

Educational Needs

Actinic keratosis lesions are an extremely common consequence of long-term exposure to ultraviolet light. In recent years, research has demonstrated the nature of AK lesions: they represent a proliferation of neoplastic keratinocytes and are characterized at the molecular level by a mutation in the p53 gene, leading to perturbation of apoptosis and, thus, the potential for the development of skin carcinomas (squamous cell carcinoma [SCC], in particular). Because it cannot be predicted which particular lesions will remain unchanged, regress, or progress to carcinoma, the consensus among researchers and clinicians alike is that all AKs should be treated. This activity provides clinicians with the most current information regarding the nature, diagnosis, and management of AKs. The faculty addresses both lesion-targeted and field treatments. The discussion also includes the results of several recently completed studies involving the topical immune response modifier imiquimod.

Educational Objectives

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

• Discuss the epidemiology of actinic keratoses, the geographic differences in incidence, and the prevalence of these lesions in individuals with various Fitzpatrick skin types.

• Explain what is currently known about the etiopathogenesis and carcinogenic potential of AKs.

• Describe the clinical presentation of AKs and the characteristic histologic features that distinguish AKs from invasive SCC.

• Discuss the rationale for treating AKs.

• List and describe the options now available for treating AKs, and discuss patient selection issues.

CME Recognition

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 the Elsevier Office of Continuing Medical Education (EOCME) and Skin & Allergy News. The EOCME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians.

The EOCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA/PRA category 1 credits toward the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Term of Approval: December 2005–December 31, 2006.

Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Inc.

---