Calcipotriol plus 5-FU better than 5-FU plus petroleum jelly for actinic keratosis treatment: Study

USA: In a new study, it was found that when compared to Topical 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) plus petroleum jelly, calcipotriol with 5-FU reduced the quantity of actinic keratosis (AK) in the treated region (25 cm2) more, however, only 27% of individuals achieved total clearing on the face at week-8. Over a three-year period, calcipotriol + 5-FU reduced the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) on the face and scalp.

This study was conducted by Lindsey Mohney, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, and the team. The findings of this work were published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

AK is a precancerous lesion that can lead to cSCC. 5-FU and imiquimod have been utilized for field-directed therapy for AK, but their usage has been limited due to unpleasant skin responses and extensive treatment periods. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate existing evidence on the efficacy, tolerability, and long-term efficacy of a topical calcipotriol + 5-FU combination for field-directed AK treatment. A critical appraisal of the existing evidence was included in the systematic review.

For this study, in August 2021, a systematic review of the literature was conducted utilizing the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases. There were studies that looked at the use of calcipotriol and 5-FU to treat actinic keratosis (AK) and prevent cSCC.

The results of this study stated as follow:

1. Four studies satisfied the inclusion criteria in total. Three papers were included in the final analysis.

2. One clinical trial looked at the effectiveness of calcipotriol + 5-FU in the treatment of AK.

3. Another clinical experiment looked at the long-term efficacy of calcipotriol + 5-FU on cSCC prevention.

4. Retrospective research looked at the usage of calcipotriol and 5-FU in conjunction with cryotherapy.

When calcipotriol was added to 5-FU for the treatment of AK, it enhanced lesion clearance but decreased tolerability. More controlled investigations are needed concluded the Authors.

Reference:

Mohney L, Singh R, Grada A, Feldman S. Use of Topical Calcipotriol Plus 5-Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis: A Systematic Review. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022 Jan 1;21(1):60-65. doi:10.36849/JDD.2022.6632.