Hearing loss in association with topical imiquimod use for squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen disease)

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common cancers involving skin and oral mucosa. Although this condition’s gold-standard treatment is the surgical removal of the lesions, the physician must propose alternative treatments in some cases due to the patient’s ineligibility for surgery. Among the available alternative therapies, local chemotherapy may represent an initial treatment in combination with radiotherapy or systemic chemotherapy due to the low frequency of side-effects and the lack of necessity for expensive devices. Methods: In this paper, we review all available literature in various databases (PubMed, Scopus-Embase, Web of Science), proposing local chemotherapy as a treatment for cutaneous and oral SCC. Exclusion criteria included ocular lesions (where topical treatments are common), non-English language, and non-human studies. Results: We included 14 studies in this review. The majority were case reports and case series describing the treatment of non-resectable localized SCC with either imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil. We also analyzed small studies proposing combination treatments. Almost all studies reported an excellent clinical outcome, with a low risk of relapses in time. Conclusions: Resection of the lesion remains the gold-standard treatment for SCC. When this approach is not feasible, local chemotherapy may represent a treatment alternative, and it may also be associated with radiotherapy or systemic chemotherapy.

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“…This drug was proposed at 5% and 3.75% concentration [ 24 ]. Hearing loss was reported in one of the included studies as a side-effect [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Chemotherapy as an Adjuvant Treatment in Unresectable Squamous Cell Carcinoma: What Do We Know So Far?

Bennardo

Giudice

et al. 2021

Current Oncology

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Imiquimod

2017

Reactions Weekly

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Ototoxicity Review: A Growing Number of Non–Platinum‐Based Chemo‐ and Immunotherapies

Naples

Rice-Narusch

Watson

et al. 2022

Otolaryngol.--head neck surg.

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Objective To raise awareness of the growing list of non–platinum-based chemo- and immunotherapeutic agents that have been associated with ototoxicity and to introduce the possible mechanism of ototoxicity of these agents. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Review Methods A systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses). PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for published reports of ototoxicity from non–platinum-based chemo- and immunotherapeutic agents in adult and pediatric patients. Therapies that utilized any platinum-based agent were excluded. Conclusions Ototoxicity from non–platinum-based chemo- and immunotherapies is an evolving problem. There were 54 reports—39 case reports and 15 cohort studies—documenting ototoxicity from 7 agents/combination therapies. Of these reports, 37 (69%) were published within the last 15 years (after 2005). No recovery of hearing was documented in 21 of 56 cases (38%). Pretreatment audiograms were uncommon (19/54 studies, 35%), despite documented ototoxic associations. Implications for Practice There is a growing number of novel, ototoxic, non–platinum-based chemo- and immunotherapeutic agents with various potential mechanisms of action. Otolaryngologists will need to prioritize awareness of these agents. This growing list of agents, many of which have reversible effects, suggest a need for standardized ototoxicity monitor protocols so that appropriate and timely management options can be implemented.

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Hearing loss in association with topical imiquimod use for squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen disease)

Cited by 3 publications

References 4 publications

Local Chemotherapy as an Adjuvant Treatment in Unresectable Squamous Cell Carcinoma: What Do We Know So Far?

Local Chemotherapy as an Adjuvant Treatment in Unresectable Squamous Cell Carcinoma: What Do We Know So Far?

Imiquimod

Ototoxicity Review: A Growing Number of Non–Platinum‐Based Chemo‐ and Immunotherapies

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