The nucleoside Tubercidin was applied topically in a 0.5% concentration to solitary basal cell carcinomas in eight patients and widespread actinic keratoses in five patients for periods of 2-6 weeks. The treatment resulted in complete resolution of all eight basal cell carcinomas. All patients have been followed for 1$" years. No recurrences have been observed. The treatment of the actinic keratoses was unsuccessful in four of five patients treated. These results are in contrast to those produced by topical 5-fluorouracil, which is less active in basal cell carcinomas and more active against actinic keratoses than Tubercidin.
Cancer 34250-253, 1974.
H E CYTOTOXIC ANTIMETABOLITE 5-FLUORO-
T uracil has been used extensively for the topical treatment of various cutaneous neoplasms.4~7~9 Initial studies on its application to solitary nodular basal cell carcinomas, at a 20% concentration in hydrophilic base, effected cure rates approximating 5070.*JOJ1 As part of our continuing effort to develop agents with improved therapeutic properties, we have evaluated the topical use of the pyrrolopyrimidine nucleoside, Tubercidin" (7deaza-adenosine) in the treatment of solitary nodular basal cell carcinomas and multiple actinic keratoses. We have found the compound to be highly effective against basal cell carcinomas and relatively ineffective against solar keratoses.
Methods
In a prior experiment, Tubercidin in a concentration of 0.5y0 in petrolatum was applied for 20 days to the clipped skin of five rats and five mice, and the clipped abraded skin of five rats and five mice. No irritation ~