Celecoxib for Precancerous Skin?
A drug for arthritis inflammation and pain may also help people plagued with skin lesions called actinic keratoses -- scaly, rough patches of skin that may be red, brown or almost colorless. A national clinical trial coordinated at UAB seeks to find whether celecoxib (marketed as Celebrex) prevents or lessens the condition. About 10 percent of cases develop into a non-melanoma skin cancer. Standard treatment, cryosurgery, isn't practical for people with more than a few lesions. UAB dermatologist Craig Elmets, M.D., is directing the national trial, one of several investigations into celecoxib's effectiveness in preventing precancerous conditions. "If this well-tolerated drug helps prevent or treat actinic keratoses, it would be analogous to taking blood pressure medication to prevent strokes or heart attacks."
Contact Hank Black, Media Relations, 205-934-8938 or [email protected].
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