Abstract
Background: Nicotinamide is the precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential cofactor for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. It has recently been reported to be effective in reducing the rates of new non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) and actinic keratosis (AKs). Objectives: We studied the efficacy of oral nicotinamide as treatment for AKs in transplant recipients. Materials & methods: We recruited 38 transplant (eight liver and 30 kidney) patients with single or multiple AKs. Nineteen patients were randomly assigned to Group 1 and took nicotinamide 500 mg/daily (cases); the other 19 patients were randomly assigned to Group 2 without nicotinamide (controls). At baseline, AKs were identified, measured, and photographed for follow-up. Five patients underwent an AK biopsy for histopathology. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student t test. Results: At baseline, no statistically significant differences were observed regarding AK size between the two groups. After six months, among the cases, AKs had significantly decreased in size in 18/19 patients (88%). Among these 18 patients, seven patients (42%) had shown complete clinical regression and no patient developed new AKs. Conversely, among the controls, 91% showed an increase in AK size and/or developed new AKs. Seven pre-existing AKs progressed to squamous-cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Nicotinamide appears to be effective in preventing and treating AKs, although the mechanisms are still unclear. Further studies with a larger sample of organ transplant recipients and a longer follow-up period are needed to further support our conclusions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 382-385 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | European Journal of Dermatology |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
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Keywords
- Actinic keratosis
- Nicotinamide
- Non-melanoma skin cancer
- Squamous-cell carcinoma
- Transplant recipients
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
Cite this
Prevention of non-melanoma skin cancers with nicotinamide in transplant recipients : A case-control study. / Drago, Francesco; Ciccarese, Giulia; Cogorno, Ludovica; Calvi, Camillo; Marsano, Luigina A.; Parodi, Aurora.
In: European Journal of Dermatology, Vol. 27, No. 4, 2017, p. 382-385.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevention of non-melanoma skin cancers with nicotinamide in transplant recipients
T2 - A case-control study
AU - Drago, Francesco
AU - Ciccarese, Giulia
AU - Cogorno, Ludovica
AU - Calvi, Camillo
AU - Marsano, Luigina A.
AU - Parodi, Aurora
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Background: Nicotinamide is the precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential cofactor for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. It has recently been reported to be effective in reducing the rates of new non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) and actinic keratosis (AKs). Objectives: We studied the efficacy of oral nicotinamide as treatment for AKs in transplant recipients. Materials & methods: We recruited 38 transplant (eight liver and 30 kidney) patients with single or multiple AKs. Nineteen patients were randomly assigned to Group 1 and took nicotinamide 500 mg/daily (cases); the other 19 patients were randomly assigned to Group 2 without nicotinamide (controls). At baseline, AKs were identified, measured, and photographed for follow-up. Five patients underwent an AK biopsy for histopathology. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student t test. Results: At baseline, no statistically significant differences were observed regarding AK size between the two groups. After six months, among the cases, AKs had significantly decreased in size in 18/19 patients (88%). Among these 18 patients, seven patients (42%) had shown complete clinical regression and no patient developed new AKs. Conversely, among the controls, 91% showed an increase in AK size and/or developed new AKs. Seven pre-existing AKs progressed to squamous-cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Nicotinamide appears to be effective in preventing and treating AKs, although the mechanisms are still unclear. Further studies with a larger sample of organ transplant recipients and a longer follow-up period are needed to further support our conclusions.
AB - Background: Nicotinamide is the precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an essential cofactor for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. It has recently been reported to be effective in reducing the rates of new non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) and actinic keratosis (AKs). Objectives: We studied the efficacy of oral nicotinamide as treatment for AKs in transplant recipients. Materials & methods: We recruited 38 transplant (eight liver and 30 kidney) patients with single or multiple AKs. Nineteen patients were randomly assigned to Group 1 and took nicotinamide 500 mg/daily (cases); the other 19 patients were randomly assigned to Group 2 without nicotinamide (controls). At baseline, AKs were identified, measured, and photographed for follow-up. Five patients underwent an AK biopsy for histopathology. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student t test. Results: At baseline, no statistically significant differences were observed regarding AK size between the two groups. After six months, among the cases, AKs had significantly decreased in size in 18/19 patients (88%). Among these 18 patients, seven patients (42%) had shown complete clinical regression and no patient developed new AKs. Conversely, among the controls, 91% showed an increase in AK size and/or developed new AKs. Seven pre-existing AKs progressed to squamous-cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Nicotinamide appears to be effective in preventing and treating AKs, although the mechanisms are still unclear. Further studies with a larger sample of organ transplant recipients and a longer follow-up period are needed to further support our conclusions.
KW - Actinic keratosis
KW - Nicotinamide
KW - Non-melanoma skin cancer
KW - Squamous-cell carcinoma
KW - Transplant recipients
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028962101&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85028962101&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1684/ejd.2017.3025
DO - 10.1684/ejd.2017.3025
M3 - Article
VL - 27
SP - 382
EP - 385
JO - European Journal of Dermatology
JF - European Journal of Dermatology
SN - 1167-1122
IS - 4
ER -