Ingenol Mebutate: A Promising Treatment for Actinic Keratoses and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers

Abstract

A new treatment for actinic keratoses, ingenol mebutate, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. To review the mechanisms of action, efficacy and safety data, and practical recommendations for ingenol mebutate. The PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched in March/April 2012 using the terms PEP005, ingenol mebutate, and ingenol 3-angelate. The abstracts from the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian College of Dermatologists (2009-2011) and the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (2009-2012) were also searched. Due to its multiple mechanisms of action, ingenol mebutate treatment resulted in short- and long-term efficacy similar to other topical treatments for actinic keratoses in a shorter period of 2 or 3 days. This short therapy would reduce the duration of adverse events. Premarketing trials for treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers also showed promising results for ingenol mebutate. Ingenol mebutate is a convenient, safe, and effective intervention for precancerous and cancerous skin conditions.