A New Wrinkle for Retin-A: It May Prevent Some Cancers

Two studies released Monday suggest that the prescription wrinkle cream Retin-A may have an entirely different use--preventing cancer.

Doctors found that the ointment appears to return precancerous conditions of the skin and cervix to normal, presumably eliminating the risk of developing malignancy.

In one study, government-financed researchers found that Retin-A reversed cervical dysplasia, an extremely common condition that occasionally leads to cervical cancer.

In the other, funded by the makers of Retin-A, scientists found that the ointment can fade and even erase moles called dysplastic nevi. These moles sometimes grow into melanoma, a lethal form of skin cancer.

“We saw significant improvement in these funny-looking lesions,” said Dr. Lynn Schuchter of the University of Pennsylvania, who conducted the mole study. “The idea is that if these lesions go away, the risk of melanoma is diminished.”

The studies, reported at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, are among the latest efforts in a new cancer field called chemoprevention. The goal is to make a preemptive strike, catching abnormal tissue before it becomes cancerous.

Probably the most notable success so far in this approach is the use of Accutane, an acne medicine, to clear up oral leukoplakia. This condition, common among smokers, often leads to mouth and throat cancer.

Like Accutane, Retin-A is a synthetic form of vitamin A.

In the larger of the two new studies, financed by the National Cancer Institute, doctors randomly assigned 301 women with moderate or severe cervical dysplasia to get Retin-A or a dummy cream.

“The bottom line was that the trial was positive for reversing moderate dysplasia but not severe dysplasia,” said Dr. Frank Meyskens Jr. of UC Irvine.