VIDEO: Nicotinamide may reduce risk for basal, squamous cell carcinoma
NEW YORK — Martin A. Weinstock, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology and community health at Brown University, discussed effective chemoprevention methods for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma — including sunscreen, retinoids, actinic keratosis treatments and nicotinamide — at HemOnc Today Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignancies.
Weinstock reviewed the outcomes of the CONTRAC trial for nicotinamide to treat basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, in which patients demonstrated a 23% reduction in risk for disease. However, he cautioned that aggressive subtypes may be stimulated by nicotinamide.
“A 23% reduction is great, but it is not as much as we need with millions of people getting basal and squamous cell carcinoma in the U.S. each year,” Weinstock told HemOnc Today. “There were a couple of concerning notes in that randomized trial … So, further evaluation is needed.”