Love WE, Bernhard JD, Bordeaux JS.
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Arch Dermatol 2009;145:1431–8.
Editor’s note: This is a systematic review examining the safety and efficacy of imiquimod and fluorouracil in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The study was conducted in the US, where both agents are licensed to treat superficial BCC. Imiquimod is an immunomodulator that acts as a toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and/or TLR8 agonist and activates cytotoxic T cells, causing destruction of tumor cells or host cells that are infected with virus. Fluorouracil is a pyrimidine antimetabolite that causes inhibition of DNA synthesis. Although multiple studies have been performed on the efficacy of these medications, long-term follow-up data are uncommon; therefore, it is difficult to determine the long-term clearance rates.