Efficacy of the fibroblast growth factor inhibitor 2,5-dihydroxyphenylsulfonate in basal cell carcinoma: a histopathological and inmunohistochemical study.

Background: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are variously implicated in skin tumorigenesis where they may be involved in the enhancement of tumoral cell proliferation and viability, induction of angiogenesis, and stimulation of tumor invasiveness.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the FGF inhibitor 2,5-dihydroxyphenylsulfonate (2,5-DHPS) in 2.5% cream for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and characterize its mechanism of action at a histological level.

Methods: After 2 weeks of histopathological diagnosis confirmation, patients initiated treatment. 2,5-DHPS cream was applied twice daily for 2 months to nine patients with BCC. Skin biopsies were performed before and after treatment. The specimens were subjected to inmunohistochemical staining with antibodies to CD34(+) and Ki-67 and to in situ apoptosis assay (TUNEL staining).

Results: The use of 2,5-DHPS achieved excellent results in all patients: CD34(+) and Ki-67 were significantly downregulated; TUNEL staining revealed a significantly higher number of apoptotic cells in skin after treatment in comparison with baseline biopsies.

Conclusion: Treatment with topical 2,5-DHPS is effective for BCC, probably due to inhibition of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and induction of tumor cell apoptosis.