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Non-Surgical Treatment of Keratinocyte Skin Cancer pp 123–132Cite as

Topical Imiquimod

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Imiquimod belongs to the family of synthetic small nucleotid-like molecules of imidazo-quinolinamines. It is an immune response modifier (IRM) with potent antiviral and antitumoral effects that are mediated through Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 (and 8) signaling. Imiquimod targets predominantly TLR7 expressing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and Langerhans cells, with secondary recruitment and activation of other inflammatory cells. Activation of TLR7 results therefore in the stimulation of both the innate and acquired immune responses, in particular, cell-mediated immune pathways. Topical imiquimod cream 5% (Aldara™, 3M) has been found to be effective for the treatment of external genital and perianal warts, actinic keratoses (AK), and superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) in immunocompetent adults. There are some data on its efficacy in nodular BCC (nBCC) and in some other skin cancers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Hungary

    Lajos Kemény

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  1. Lajos Kemény
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Correspondence to Lajos Kemény .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Dermatology, University of Copenhagen, Roskilde Hospital, Køgevej 7-13, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark

    Gregor B. E. Jemec

  2. Dept. Dermatology & Allergology, University of Szeged, Korányi Fasor 6, Szeged, 6720, Hungary

    Lajos Kemeny

  3. Dept. Dermatology, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 N. Oak Ave., Marshfield, WI, 54449, USA

    Donald Miech

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Kemény, L. (2010). Topical Imiquimod. In: Jemec, G.B.E., Kemeny, L., Miech, D. (eds) Non-Surgical Treatment of Keratinocyte Skin Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79341-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-79341-0_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-79340-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-79341-0

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