Verrucous hyperplasia and verrucous carcinoma in head and neck: use and benefit of methotrexate.

Background and aim: Verrucous hyperplasia (VH) and verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the head and neck are two (pre)malignant entities that are slowly progressive with low tendency to metastasize. However, they can reduce the patient's Quality of Life (QoL) and may even transform into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). As they are typically approached by surgical resection, some patients do not qualify for surgery. Methotrexate may be a systemic alternative but the response is mostly not durable. This case report tries to illustrate the potential role of methotrexate in VH/VC of the head and neck.Method: We describe four cases of patients with VH or VC of the head and neck who received methotrexate (40-60 mg/m2) in a weekly or two-weekly interval.Results: Two patients received methotrexate in a neoadjuvant setting. The first patient achieved a macroscopical complete response after 16 cycles and remained in remission after surgery. The second patient suffered from residual disease after 26 cycles and refused radical surgery.Two other patients refused surgery at the time of diagnosis and were proposed methotrexate as a salvage treatment. The first patient had an ongoing response on methotrexate after >60 cycles. The second patient achieved macroscopical complete remission after 28 cycles of methotrexate but suffered relapse by developing an oropharyngeal SCC in the same region.Conclusion: When surgery is not desirable in VH and/or VC, patients can be treated with methotrexate which has a reasonable effect and seems to be well tolerated. Nevertheless, surgery should be the preferred strategy to achieve complete remission.

Photodynamic therapy with acitretin for treatment of penile verrucous carcinoma.

Penile verrucous carcinoma exhibits a high potential for recurrence. Traditional treatment for penile verrucous carcinoma is radical surgery. Extensive resection generally leads to the loss of the patient's sexual function and limits the tolerance for additional additional surgical resection. Herein, we present a case of penile verrucous carcinoma, who achieved complete remission after 3 sessions of PDT and 6 months Acitretin. There was no recurrence at 12 months of follow-up. This case suggests that photodynamic therapy combined with acitretin is a treatment option for penile verrucous carcinoma.

Oral retinoid, acitretin, is effective in the management of resistant recurrent vulval verrucous carcinoma: A case report.

Verrucous carcinomas are a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Vulval verrucous carcinoma comprises only 1% of vulval malignancies. This case report discusses the successful management of aggressive recurrent vulval verrucous carcinoma with acitretin, an oral synthetic retinoid used to manage severe psoriasis, after multiple surgical interventions and radiotherapy had failed. This is the first reported case in which verrucous carcinoma had recurred in a musculocutaneous graft. To manage the recurrence, the patient underwent radiotherapy, which did not resolve the condition. The patient was then administered acitretin 25 mg once daily, which successfully resolved the condition, and the patient has been symptom free for 6 months. This report aims to propose the use of acitretin as a management option for recurrent verrucous carcinomas.

Tumor de Ackerman perianal / Ackerman's perianal tumor

Introducción: El carcinoma verrucoso o tumor de Ackerman es una rara entidad relacionada con la infección por el virus del papiloma humano, comportándose como una variante menos agresiva del carcinoma epidermoide. Caso clínico: Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente de sexo masculino de 45 años portador de una gran lesión perianal con compromiso del canal anal y el aparato esfinteriano. Discusión: Existen varias alternativas para el tratamiento del tumor de Ackerman. Sin embargo en casos como este, y sobre todo ante la ausencia de respuesta al tratamiento de quimioradioterapia, se requiere de una resección amplia y radical. Pese a ello, la recidiva es frecuente. Conclusiones: En el caso analizado se destaca la forma particularmente agresiva de esta patología, con extensa invasión local y pobre respuesta al tratamiento oncoespecífico inicial.

Introduction: Verrucous carcinoma or Ackerman's tumor is a rare entity related to human papillomavirus infection, behaving as a less aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical case: We present the case of a 45-year-old male patient with a large perianal lesion with involvement of the anal canal and sphincter. Discussion: Ackerman tumor treatment admits different therapeutic modalities; however, in cases such as this, and especially in the absence of response to chemo-radiotherapy treatment, a broad and radical resection is required. Despite this, recurrence is frequent. Conclusions: The particularly aggressive form of this pathology, with extensive local invasion and poor response to the initial oncoespecific treatment, stands out in the analyzed case

Treatment of verrucous carcinoma in penis with topical aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy: An effective and safe treatment method.

BACKGROUND: Verrucous carcinoma of the penis is a rare disease characterized by verrucous lesions. The traditional treatment methods for verrucous carcinoma result in loss of sexual function are not satisfactory. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effect of topical aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy in the treatment of verrucous carcinoma in penis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, four male patients, average age of (47 ± 7.58) years old, with penile verrucous carcinoma were treated with topical aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) combined with curettage. First, the lesions were removed under local anesthesia. Then, the first session of PDT was performed right away. Ten percent 5-ALA cream was applied to surface of the lesions with occlusive dressing for a 3-h incubation period and the lesions were irradiated for 10 min by using a 635-nm laser beam of 177 mW/cm2 intensity. The ALA-PDT was repeated after 1 and 3 weeks and two other treatments applied if necessary. RESULTS: Three patients were cured by this treatment, with one case relapsed at 3 months. There was no other recurrence at 5 years off treatments. The satisfaction rate of patients was 75% at 3 months after treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Topical PDT can be an effective and successful treatment modality for verrucous carcinoma in penis.

Recurrent verrucous carcinoma of the urinary bladder after transurethral resection followed by intravesical mitomycin, and a review of the literature.

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a locally invasive, non-metastasising well differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma. It is very rare in the urinary bladder and mostly associated with schistosomiasis. It has a characteristic multilobular appearance with small surface projections on contrast cystogram. Owing to its bland cytology, it is a challenging diagnosis. We report a case of VC of the bladder-unrelated to schistosomiasis and involving the prostate-that recurred after transurethral resection of the tumour and prostate followed by six doses of intravesical mitomycin. To the best of our knowledge, no such case has been reported from Pakistan.

Radioprotectant and Cytotoxic Effects of Spirulina in Relapsed Verrucous Vulvar Cancer: A Case Report.

CONTEXT: The treatment of relapsed verrucous vulvar cancer (VVC) is difficult. When vulvar cancer relapses, the treatment response is low for second-line treatments. Conversely, toxicity is high. Therefore, scientists need to identify different treatment methods. OBJECTIVES: The case study was intended to examine the benefits of combining treatment with microalgae and metronidazole with radiotherapy to increase the response to treatment. SETTING: The study took place in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Bezmialem Vakif University, in Istanbul, Turkey. PARTICIPANT: The case study involved an 81-y-old female patient whose vulvar tumor was excised and who came to the research team's radiation oncology service for postoperative radiation. She had 2 comorbid disorders: Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease. INTERVENTION: A relapse had occurred in the 15-d postoperative period. Because of the patient's age and comorbid disorders, the research team decided to treat the new tumor only with concurrent radiochemotherapy and a weekly dose of cisplatin that contained chemoradiotherapy, for a total of 25 mg. At the 52.2 Gy dose level, grade 3 radiation skin toxicity occurred in the radiated area, although the research team had obtained an 80% response to the radiochemotherapy. The treatment was interrupted because of toxicity but also due to a deterioration in the patient's general health. Progression of the tumor continued, and the tumor's diameter increased to 7 cm after a 4-mo period. The research team then initiated radiotherapy again, combining it with spirulina in a 750 mg/dose at 2 doses/d and metronidazole in a 500 mg/dose at 3 doses/d, to decrease radiation toxicity and increase radiosensitivity. Radiotherapy was applied at 200 cGy per fraction with a total dose of 2400 cGy, with only 1 anterior local-tumor field. RESULTS: The patient showed a complete response to radiotherapy, and the tumor disappeared at the 2400 cGy radiation dose. No toxicity occurred related to the skin or the woman's general health. Her Karnofsky performance score increased to 90% from 50%, which was the initial score of the second treatment.

[HPV-associated verrucous carcinoma of the perianal region--complete remission after surgical excision and postoperative monochemotherapy with methotrexat].

Verrucous carcinoma of the perianal area continues still to be rare finding, which in histopathological aspect is a highly differentiated form of squamous cell carcinoma. Many literature data show that it is quite possible that HPV viruses play probably a key role in the etiology of verrucous carcinoma. We present a case of 48 year-old female patient with verrucous carcinoma localized in the perianal area, treated initially under the diagnosis of perianal skin tags, while surgical removal of the lesion was found rare form of HPV associated verrucous carcinoma. A preventive mono-chemotherapy with methotrexate by scheme was started for an initial period of 3 months. Six months later, the provided monitoring has not shown clinical or apparative data on tumor recurrence. The article discusses key points of the diagnostic algorithm in patients with HPV associated lesions with anogenital localization and provides valuable recommendations for correct clinical behavior in these risk groups.

Subset of patients with verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity who benefit from treatment with methotrexate.

Oral verrucous carcinoma (OVC) is a low-grade variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with a distinctive morphology and specific pattern of behaviour that is often diagnosed in elderly patients. Resection is the treatment of choice, with radiotherapy as a reasonable alternative. In this retrospective case review we present our experience and outcomes in a group of 12 patients with various stages of OVC who had not been treated conventionally because of the extent of their lesions and their poor general condition. All patients were given chemotherapy with methotrexate, which was given by various routes and in different doses during the period 1972-2010. In 11 patients treatment with methotrexate alone was beneficial. One patient failed to respond. Methotrexate used alone as chemotherapy may minimise morbidity and improve quality of life, particularly among elderly patients.

Advanced penile verrucous carcinoma treated with intra-aortic infusion chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Traditional treatment for advanced penile verrucous carcinoma is penectomy. This mostly leads to remarkable psychosexual problems and greatly affects quality of life, especially in young patients. To preserve the penis we used intra-aortic infusion chemotherapy for advanced verrucous carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1991 to 2009 we treated 6 men with penile verrucous carcinoma with continuous intra-aortic infusion of 50 mg methotrexate every 24 hours (average 550 mg, range 400 to 800). Citrovorum factor (6 mg) was given intramuscularly every 6 hours during methotrexate infusion. After continuous methotrexate infusion no further anticancer drug was given to complete responders. Partial responders subsequently received long-term, intermittent, intra-aortic infusion of 50 mg methotrexate or 2 mg mitomycin C plus 250 mg 5-fluorouracil every 1 to 2 weeks until tumors disappeared and all wounds healed. RESULTS: After treatment 4 patients achieved a complete response and were disease-free 3 years 9 months to 17 years 10 months (median 11 years 3 months) after therapy. Two patients had a partial response. The patient with a shaft tumor subsequently underwent total penectomy due to unbearable penile pain 4 years after infusion with various drugs without an appreciable response. He has survived 12 years 5 months after initial treatment. The other patient with glans and prepuce tumors had progression with bilateral inguinal metastases despite 1 1/2 years of infusion therapy. Total penectomy was done. Histological examination of the glans mass revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Patient condition progressed rapidly and he died 11 months after penectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-aortic infusion chemotherapy is a simple, effective method to treat penile verrucous carcinoma with the uniqueness of preserving the anatomical structure and sexual function in complete responders. For penile verrucous carcinoma, especially in younger patients, intra-aortic infusion chemotherapy may be considered organ sparing treatment before penectomy.

Photodynamic therapy outcome for oral verrucous hyperplasia depends on the clinical appearance, size, color, epithelial dysplasia, and surface keratin thickness of the lesion.

Our previous studies showed that oral verrucous hyperplasia (OVH) lesions can be successfully treated with a topical 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (topical ALA-PDT) protocol using a 635-nm light-emitting diode light source. In this study, we report the clinical outcomes of 36 OVH lesions treated by this protocol and assess what clinicopathological parameters of OVH lesions could influence PDT treatment outcomes. We found that all the 36 OVH lesions showed complete response (CR) after an average of 3.8 (range, 1-6) treatments of topical ALA-PDT. OVH lesions with an clinical appearance of a mass, with the greatest diameter <1.5 cm, with the pink color, with epithelial dysplasia, or with the surface keratin layer < or =40 microm needed significantly less mean treatment numbers of PDT to achieve a CR than OVH lesions with an outer appearance of a plaque or a combination type of peripheral plaque and central mass (p=0.000), with the greatest diameter > or =1.5 cm (p=0.011), with the white color (p=0.000), without epithelial dysplasia (p=0.043), or with the surface keratin layer > 40 microm(p=0.003), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only the clinical appearance of OVH lesions was the independent factor (p=0.0069). We conclude that complete regression of OVH lesions can be achieved by less than seven treatments of topical ALA-PDT once a week. The PDT treatment outcome for OVH depends on the outer appearance, size, color, epithelial dysplasia, and surface keratin thickness of the lesion.

Carcinoma verrugoso de Ackerman / Ackerman verrucous carcinoma

El carcinoma verrugoso, tumor de Ackerman o papilomatosis florida, es una variedad bien diferenciada del carcinoma de células escamosas. Fue descrito por primera vez en 1948 por Lauren Ackerman (Francia), el que observó que dicho tumor presentaba apariencia morfológica característica y un comportamiento clínico específico, por lo que debía ser separado de los otros carcinomas de células escamosas. Se lo atribuye al consumo del tabaco en sus diferentes formas, la responsabilidad en la aparición de esta lesión, sumándose otros factores irritntes crónicos locales. Actualmente se le otorga gran importancia al VPH (virus papiloma humano), principalmente al tipo 16, por estar presente en el 98 por ciento de las lesiones; queda por dilucidar si tiene función pirmaria en la etiología de la lesión o es un agregado posterior. Presentamos un caso de carcinoma verrugoso de Ackerman en la mucosa bucal, en un paciente varón de 51 años con historia de consumo de tabaco, alcohol y coqueo con bicarbonato de sodio durante larga data. Se describen las manifestaciones clínicas, histopatológicas y el control posterior a los 5 años.

Effective eradication of oral verrucous carcinoma with continuous intraarterial infusion chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effectiveness of intraarterial methotrexate infusion as a primary therapy for oral verrucous carcinoma (VC). METHODS: Fifteen male patients (mean age, 55 years) were included. By using an implantable port-catheter system and a portable pump, methotrexate was continuously infused to the external carotid artery for a mean period of 7.5 days (50 mg/day), followed by weekly bolus of methotrexate (25 mg) via intraarterial route for a mean period of 10 weeks. RESULTS: The tumor regressed dramatically and disappeared completely after treatment within a mean period of 2.5 months. All patients obtained complete remission and recovered without disfigurement. All patients were alive without disease recurrence at a median follow-up of 43 months. The side effects were tolerable. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our treatment modality for oral VC appear to compete favorably with the results of surgical series and even more with those of radiotherapy series.