Topical tacrolimus treatment does not facilitate photocarcinogenesis in cancer-prone mice

Abstract

Tacrolimus, a topical calcineurin inhibitor, is an immunosuppressive drug mainly through down-regulation of T cell activation. Topical application of tacrolimus shows therapeutic effect on inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis [1]. However, there has been a concern about the long term risk of possible skin cancers facilitated by topical tacrolimus, because of its potential suppression of anti-tumor immunity [2]. Recent studies demonstrated that topical pimecrolimus and tacrolimus did not accelerate photocarcinogenesis in hairless mice after UVA or simulated solar radiation [3,4].