The two most common forms of periocular skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). BCC is a slow-growing, locally invasive epidermal skin tumor that originates in the basal layer of the skin and can cause considerable patient morbidity [1, 2]. BCC is the most common cancer in the white population, and its incidence is increasing at alarming rates. An estimated 2.8 million people in the United States are diagnosed with BCC annually [3,4].

SCC is a malignant tumor that arises from the keratinizing cells of the epidermis or its appendages. It is locally invasive and has the potential to metastasize to other organs of the body.

SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 700,000 cases of SCC are diagnosed each year in the United States [5].

BCC and SCC are collectively referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancers. Over the past three decades, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined [6]. An estimated 3010 deaths from nonmelanoma skin cancers have been predicted to occur in the United States in 2012 [7].

The periocular region is a common site for head and neck skin malignancy. It is bounded by the nose medially, the orbital rim laterally, the brow superiorly and the infraorbital rim inferiorly.

BCC accounts for 80% - 95% and SCC for 5% - 10% of periocular malignancies [8].

Surgical excision and Mohs micrographic surgery are the gold-standard for periocular skin malignancies. Once the tumor has been completely removed, reconstructive surgery is usually necessary.

Reconstruction of periocular defects following excision of cutaneous malignancy can present difficulties for oculofacial and reconstruction surgeons. The intricate anatomy of this area requires precise restoration to avoid postoperative functional and aesthetic concerns. Excision surgery may be very challenging in this anatomical area and can cause cosmetic functional impairment [8]. In addition, not all patients with periocular malignancies are qualified for surgery.

Topical therapy with a cream formulation containing solasodine rhamnosides, Curaderm^BEC5, produces beneficial end results with a wide range of BCCs and SCCs of varying locations and sizes ranging from millimeters to centimeters [9,10]. Moreover, cosmesis with little or no scar formation with Curaderm^BEC5 treatment are striking [9-17]. The tissue-sparing technique of Curaderm^BEC5 also preserves functionality [18].

This communication presents a review of patients with periocular BCCs and SCCs who were treated topically with Curaderm^BEC5. This anatomical site is considered to be difficult to treat by any modality.

Selection of study population: Only patients with periocular nonmelanoma skin cancers were selected for this review. Seven patients with BCCs and two patients with SCCs at the periocular region bounded by the nose medially, the orbital rim laterally, the brow superiorly and infraorbital inferiorly were treated topically with Curaderm^BEC5.

Glycoalkaloids (BEC) were extracted from the fruit of S. sodomaeum also known as S. linnaeanum (devil’s apple) and S. melongena (eggplant) essentially as described earlier [19]. BEC is a mixture of solasodine glycosides consisting of the triglycosides solasonine (β-solatriose) (33%), solamargine (β-chacotriose) (33%), and di-and-monoglycosides (34%). All the glycosides contain the same aglycone solasodine [19-24].

The cream formulation Curaderm^BEC5 is available to patients in several countries. Curaderm^BEC5 contains the glycoalkaloids BEC at 0.005% as a topical formulation [9,10].

The patients were instructed to use Curaderm^BEC5 as follows:

• Wash the lesion and the surrounding area with a mild non-irritating soap;

• Rinse with water;

• Dry thoroughly;

• Unscrew the lid of the Curaderm^BEC5 tube and remove the protective foil that covers the hole in the lid of the tube;

• Apply Curaderm^BEC5 to the lesion, just enough to cover the lesion. Spread evenly over lesion only. Do not apply the cream in large quantity and do not extend the cream more than 0.5 cm on the apparently normal skin surrounding the edge of the lesion;

• Apply the cream to the lesion by gently squeezing the tube;

• Cover each lesion with an occlusive dressing (for example paper tape) until the next application of Curaderm^BEC5;

• Apply the cream to the lesion twice daily, i.e. every 12 hours;

• Stop treatment only when the lesion has been completely cleared and replaced with normal skin.

Histological analyses of biopsies confirmed the clinical evaluations. In some cases biopsies were taken after completion of treatment. Some patients refused to have biopsies taken after treatment for cosmetic reasons. Nevertheless, all patients, except one, which is currently being monitored, were followed-up for over 5 years. All showed no recurrence of their treated lesions.

Figures 1 and 2 show clinical and histological evaluations of patients who were treated with Curaderm^BEC5 for periocular SCCs.

Figures 3 to 9 illustrate periocular BCCs that were treated with Curaderm^BEC5.

The general observed pattern of response with Curaderm^BEC5 therapy entailed swelling, erythema, erosion,

ulceration and regrowth of normal tissue. Tingling, or some pain was experienced for 15 to 30 minutes after each application. In the initial stages of Curaderm^BEC5 therapy, the treated lesion increased in size. From a clini-

cal perspective, the increase in size seemed to correlate with the extent of tumor presence at the lesion site. During this stage some patients experienced pain or a burning sensation for 15 to 30 minutes after application of the cream. After sometime during treatment, the lesion started to reduce in size. Treatment was continued until the lesion was completely cleared and was replaced with normal skin. At the end of treatment some erythema was observed which lasted several days.

Skin cancer falls into two major groups, nonmelanoma and melanoma. BCC and SCC are types of nonmelanoma skin cancers and are the most common skin cancers. BCC rarely metastasizes or kills. However, it can cause significant destruction, disfigurement and loss of functionality of the affected area. SCCs are locally invasive and can metastasize with potential fatal sequelae.

In the United States approximately 3 out of 10 and in Australia 1 out of 2 Caucasians may develop BCC within their lifetime. In 80% of all cases, BCCs are found on the head and neck [6,7].

The treatment for these nonmelanoma skin cancers depends on their type, size and location, the number to be treated, and the preference or expertise of the doctor.

It has been documented that the most effective treatment option is by surgical excision. However, it has been reported that the recurrence rates using this procedure can be very high, ranging from 30 to 67 percent [26].

Over the last few decades non-surgical treatments have become available. These include cryotherapy, topical fluorouracil and imiquimod creams, radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. These procedures have many beneficial outcomes when treating early-detected nonmelanoma skin cancers. However, there are also many limitations and some disadvantages using these techniques are: requirement of local anesthetics, procedural complications, discomfort and/or pain, multiple visits to the doctor, possible infection, risk of scarring, disfigurement, long treatment periods, changes in pigmentation, high recurrence rates and possible requirement of reconstruction after treatment [25].

Surgical excision and Mohs micrographic surgery are the most effective treatments for periocular skin cancers. Reconstruction of the resulting defect is tailored to preserve function, protect the eye, and provide a satisfactory cosmetic appearance. Mohs micrographic surgery procedure may become tedious, prolonged and exhausting for the patient; especially if the case is difficult or complex as is the case with periocular tumors. This procedure requires a specially trained dermatologist and ancillary staff. Multiple injections of local anesthetic can cause discomfort for the patient. Mohs treatment fails in tumors that have satellitosis, a multicentric origin, or skip areas. Surgical procedures are also costly. 

Unfortunately, not all patients with periocular malignancies qualify for surgical intervention and many patients find it daunting to have surgical procedures around the eyes. Consequently the lesion grows larger with potentially drastic sequelae.

This current communication shows clearly that topical treatments of periocular BCCs and SCCs with Curaderm ^BEC5 result in impressive clinical outcomes.

The antineoplastic mode of action of the solasodine rhamnosides, solamargine and solasonine, present in Curaderm^BEC5 may explain the remarkable observed clinical outcomes. Specific endogenous endocytic lectins (EELs) have been identified on cancer cells [27]. These EELs have been further characterized as rhamnose binding protein (RBP) receptors [28]. RBP receptors are present on cancer cells but not normal cells [27,28]. RBP receptors bind the solasodine rhamnosides (BEC). BEC is then internalized into the cancer cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis through “coated pit endocytosis”. BEC interacts with the lysosomes and mitochondria resulting in the triggering of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in the cancer cells by up-regulating the expression of external death receptors, such as tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR-1), Fas receptor, TNFR-1 associated death domain and Fas-associated death domain [29,30]. BEC enhances the intrinsic ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 by upregulating Bax and down-regulating Bcl-2 and Bcl-x expressions. These effects result in activation of Caspase-8, -9 and -3 in cancer cells [24-34], indicating that BEC triggers extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in cancer cells and causes apoptosis to cancer cells.

These events may explain the clinical observations that treatment with Curaderm^BEC5 results in elimination of cancer cells only and not normal cells. Very importantly, whilst cancer cells are being destroyed by Curaderm^BEC5, normal cells are replenishing the dead cancer cells and this exceptional occurrence translates to the observed cosmesis effects of Curaderm^BEC5 therapy. Moreover, Curaderm^BEC5 therapy clears cancer cells whether they are proliferating or not [25].

Clinical observations with Curaderm^BEC5 therapy reveal that initially the lesion size increases significantly due to interaction of Curaderm^BEC5 with deeper seated and more lateral tumor cells [15-17,25]. As treatment progresses, the size of the lesion decreases due to the elimination of Curaderm^BEC5 affected cancer cells, which are replaced with normal skin cells. Less Curaderm^BEC5 cream is then applied to the smaller sized lesion until the lesion is completely cleared and replaced with normal skin cells [25].

The pain during treatment experienced by some patients may be explained by the keratolytic agents salicylic acid and urea and not BEC as was previously reported in placebo controlled clinical trials with Curaderm ^BEC5 [11,35,36].

Curaderm^BEC therapy is stopped only after the lesion has been completely replaced with normal tissue. This explains why treatment periods of Curaderm^BEC5 therapy vary and are dependent on size, location and type of tumor tissue.

These striking observations with Curaderm^BEC5 therapy are vastly different than all other therapies that are used for treatment of neoplastic cells. After Curaderm ^BEC5 therapy, no reconstructive surgery is required. The body heals itself with no disfigurement, and, functionality of the tissue is preserved [18].

Curaderm^BEC5 therapy for periocular nonmelanoma skin cancers is very effective and safe. The treatment of these lesions overcomes the major drawbacks of other currently available therapies. Curaderm^BEC5 is specific and eliminates the cancer cells only, without harming normal cells and consequently cosmesis is excellent. No reconstructive surgery is required with Curaderm^BEC5 therapy. These preliminary observations warrant more extensive clinical evaluations to determine the potential of this treatment modality for periocular skin cancers.