Topical Administration of Anticancer Drugs for Skin Cancer Treatment

pH-Responsive Nanostructures Based on Surface Active Fatty Acid-Protic Ionic Liquids for Imiquimod Delivery in Skin Cancer Topical Therapy

“…The incidence of skin cancer is on the rise worldwide and surgical removal or invasive procedures represent the most widely used treatments. In recent years, numerous therapeutic strategies have been introduced, such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, photodynamic therapy, and gene therapy [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. While non-melanoma skin cancer is rarely fatal, melanoma can metastasize and account for most of the skin cancer deaths.…”

“…While non-melanoma skin cancer is rarely fatal, melanoma can metastasize and account for most of the skin cancer deaths. The primary treatment for melanoma is surgical, but non-surgical treatments are employed as adjuvant therapies and in those cases where excision is not feasible or prior resections have been unsuccessful [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. In particular, in case of unresectable melanoma, in-transit metastatic melanoma, and lentigo maligna, non-surgical approaches can be pursued and include systemic agents, local radiation, and intralesional and topical therapies [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…The topical application of drugs represents one of the most preferable routes for drug administration because of advantages as first pass metabolism bypass and increased patient compliance [ 13 ]. For the last few decades, the nanotechnologies have been studied to enhance drug bioavailability following topical application [ 10 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] and received increasing attention for the treatment of melanoma [ 2 , 7 , 18 ]. Still, the field is open for the development of more potent and biocompatible topical formulations.…”

Advances in encapsulated dermal formulations in chemoprevention of melanoma: An overview

“…Also, inhibiting tyrosinase activity could be valuable in the prevention of melanoma since melanin overproduction is promoted by high levels of tyrosinase in the serum and in tissues. 7,8 Drug-loaded nanosized formulations can protect anticancer drugs against degradation, enable increased tumor penetration of the drug, improve drug stability, and reduce skin irritation by avoiding direct contact of the drug with the skin's surface. 9 The literature cites the use of newer excipients like ceramides which are similar to SC lipids in novel microemulsion formulations to favor drug delivery into skin compartments enabling deeper penetration compared to a hydrophilic conventional cream.…”

“…Promising approaches to tackle early stages of melanoma and provide chemoprevention include encapsulated drug‐loaded topical formulations. Also, inhibiting tyrosinase activity could be valuable in the prevention of melanoma since melanin overproduction is promoted by high levels of tyrosinase in the serum and in tissues . Drug‐loaded nanosized formulations can protect anticancer drugs against degradation, enable increased tumor penetration of the drug, improve drug stability, and reduce skin irritation by avoiding direct contact of the drug with the skin's surface …”