Patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia often develop actinic keratosis (AK) and squamous cell carcinoma in sun-exposed areas. In these particular patients, who have a suboptimal immune function, AK treatment can be particularly challenging. We report the case of a patient who failed to respond to most AK treatments, including 5-FU, imiquimod and photodynamic therapy, but responded to ingenol mebutate. We started with 3 applications of 150 μg/g (registered treatment of the scalp) and also 2 applications of 500 μg/g (registered in for trunk and extremities). Both treatments were well tolerated, but only the latter led to significant clinical success. This suggests that 500 μg/g of ingenol mebutate may represent an interesting therapeutic option in patients with mild immunosuppression.

1.
Perez-Reyes N, Farhi DC: Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck in patients with well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma. Cancer 1987;59:540-544.
2.
Levi F, Randimbison L, Te VC, La Vecchia C: Non-hodgkin's lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukaemias and skin cancers. Br J Cancer 1996;74:1847-1850.
3.
Ulrich C, Bichel J, Euvrard S, Guidi B, Proby CM, van de Kerkhof PC, Amerio P, Rønnevig J, Slade HB, Stockfleth E: Topical immunomodulation under systemic immunosuppression: results of a multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study of imiquimod 5% cream for the treatment of actinic keratoses in kidney, heart, and liver transplant patients. Br J Dermatol 2007;157(suppl 2):25-31.
4.
Alessi SS, Sanches JA, Oliveira WR, Messina MC, Pimentel ER, Festa Neto C: Treatment of cutaneous tumors with topical 5% imiquimod cream. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2009;64:961-966.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.