Nanoparticles as drug carrier system of 5-fluorouracil in local treatment of patients with superficial basal cell carcinoma.

Summary Purpose: To develop an alternative nonsurgical treatment for basal cell carcinoma using colloidal systems as drug carriers. We investigated the possibility of polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles loaded with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to be applied in local treatment of patients with basal cell carcinoma. Patients and methods: 32 patients (mean age 74 years, range 56-90) with histologically confirmed superficial basal cell carcinoma were treated with 5-FU-loaded polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were prepared by anionic polymerization of butyl-2-cyanoacrylate monomer for use as drug delivery system. The preparation of 5-FU-loaded polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles was carried out by adsorption of the drug on the surface of previously prepared nanoparticles. This preparation was applied once a day for 35-40 days. The effect of treatment on the immunological parameters, measured by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced DNA synthesis of T lymphocytes and also their number in the peripheral blood were analyzed in 28 of 32 treated patients and compared against a group of 24 healthy individuals (controls). Results: 31 of 32 patients achieved histologically confirmed complete tumor resolution. Treatment did not cause significant changes both in the number of T lymphocytes and PHA-induced DNA synthesis of T lymphocytes of the treated patients. Conclusion: Local treatment with 5-FU-loaded nanoparticles provides a nonsurgical treatment alternative in patients with superficial basal cell carcinoma. This effective and well tolerated method is preferred by patients who are not surgical candidates or who prefer nonsurgical treatment.