Risk Factors and Outcomes of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer in Children and Young Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) occurrence and survival in children. STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter, retrospective, case-control study of patients <20 years of age diagnosed with NMSC between 1995 and 2015 from 11 academic medical centers. The primary outcome measure was frequency of cases and controls with predisposing genetic conditions and/or iatrogenic exposures, including chemotherapy, radiation, systemic immunosuppression, and voriconazole. RESULTS: Of the 124 children with NMSC (40 with basal cell carcinoma, 90 with squamous cell carcinoma), 70% had at least 1 identifiable risk factor. Forty-four percent of the cases had a predisposing genetic condition or skin lesion, and 29% had 1 or more iatrogenic exposures of prolonged immunosuppression, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or voriconazole use. Prolonged immunosuppression and voriconazole use were associated with squamous cell carcinoma occurrence (cases vs controls; 30% vs 0%, P = .0002, and 15% vs 0%, P = .03, respectively), and radiation therapy and chemotherapy were associated with basal cell carcinoma occurrence (both 20% vs 1%, P < .0001). Forty-eight percent of initial skin cancers had been present for >12 months prior to diagnosis and 49% of patients were diagnosed with ≥2 skin cancers. At last follow-up, 5% (6 of 124) of patients with NMSC died. Voriconazole exposure was noted in 7 cases and associated with worse 3-year overall survival (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: NMSC in children and young adults is often associated with a predisposing condition or iatrogenic exposure. High-risk patients should be identified early to provide appropriate counseling and management.

Safety and efficacy of clindamycin phosphate 1.2%-benzoyl peroxide 3% fixed-dose combination gel for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active- and vehicle-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Topical fixed-combination therapy containing 1% clindamycin as 1.2% clindamycin phosphate (CLNP) and 3% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is an effective treatment for acne vulgaris (acne). OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that the combination of 1.2% CLNP with lower strength BPO (CLNP 1.2%-BPO 3%) in a gel formulation is superior to each individual ingredient, CLNP 1.2% and BPO 3%, and vehicle gel. METHODS: A total of 1,319 patients with acne, aged 12 years or older, were enrolled and randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive CLNP 1.2%-BPO 3%, CLNP 1.2% gel, BPO 3% gel, or vehicle gel once-daily in a 12-week, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled study. Subjects were evaluated at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 or early termination. Assessment of efficacy was evaluated using a six-point Investigator's Static Global Assessment (ISGA) and Subject's Global Assessment (SGA) of acne severity and lesion counts (inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total). Safety assessments included skin tolerability and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: A greater proportion of subjects who used CLNP 1.2%-BPO 3% gel (39%) had a two grade improvement in ISGA from baseline to week 12 compared with CLNP 1.2% (25%; P<0.001), BPO 3% (30%; P=0.016), and vehicle (18%; P<0.001). CLNP 1.2%- BPO 3% was superior to CLNP 1.2% and vehicle alone in the absolute reduction from baseline to week 12 in all three lesion types (P<0.001 all pair-wise comparisons). CLNP 1.2%-BPO 3% was superior to BPO 3% alone in the absolute reduction from baseline to week 12 in inflammatory (P=0.015) and total (P=0.032) lesion counts. The incidence of product-related AEs was low and similar in all study groups (1% with CLNP 1.2%-BPO 3%, 2% with CLNP 1.2%, 2% with BPO 3%, and 2% with vehicle). Local tolerability assessments showed similar minimal changes from baseline to week 12 in all study groups. CONCLUSION: CLNP 1.2%-BPO 3% gel provides superior efficacy to improve ISGA score and reduce inflammatory and total lesion counts compared with the individual active ingredients (CLNP 1.2% and BPO 3%) and vehicle, while maintaining a highly favorable safety and tolerability profile similar to BPO 3% alone.

MAS063DP is effective monotherapy for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in infants and children: a multicenter, randomized, vehicle-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy and safety of MAS063DP (Atopiclair) cream in the management of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in infants and children. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred forty-two patients aged 6 months to 12 years were administered MAS063DP (n = 72) or vehicle (n = 70) cream 3 times per day to affected areas and sites prone to develop atopic dermatitis. The primary endpoint for efficacy was the Investigator's Global Assessment at day 22. Secondary endpoints included Investigator's Global Assessment at other time-points, patient's/caregiver's assessment of pruritus, onset, duration of itch relief, Eczema Area and Severity Index, subject's/caregiver's assessment of global response, and need for rescue medication in the event of an atopic dermatitis flare. RESULTS: MAS063DP cream was statistically more effective (P < .0001) than vehicle cream for the primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints. Treatment discontinuation as a result of an adverse event occurred in 9.9% of patients using MAS063DP cream and 16% of patients using vehicle cream. CONCLUSION: MAS063DP cream is effective and safe as monotherapy for the treatment of symptoms of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in infants and children.

Congenital localized scleroderma.

OBJECTIVES: Juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) usually has its onset during later childhood. This report describes the clinical and serologic features of six children with congenital localized scleroderma (CLS). STUDY DESIGN: A large, multinational study was conducted among pediatric rheumatology and dermatology centers by collecting information on demographics, family history, triggering environmental factors, clinical features, laboratory reports, and treatment of patients with JLS. Patients with onset at birth were carefully examined. RESULTS: Among 750 patients with JLS, 6 patients (0.8%) had scleroderma-related lesions at birth. Female-to-male ratio was 2:1. All patients had linear scleroderma, in four involving the face with en coup de sabre appearance. Two patients were misdiagnosed as having skin infection, one nevus, one salmon patch, and two undefined skin lesions. The mean diagnostic delay was 3.9 years. In comparison with the group of 733 patients with late-onset JLS, CLS presented a significantly more prolonged disease duration at diagnosis and a higher frequency of en coup de sabre subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital localized scleroderma is a rare and probably underestimated condition in neonates. The linear subtype was the exclusive manifestation of the disease. CLS should be included in the differential diagnosis of infants with cutaneous erythematous fibrotic lesions to avoid functional and aesthetic sequelae and to allow prompt therapy.