Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is the second most common cutaneous malignancy.,Despite various available treatment methods and advances in noninvasive diagnostic techniques, the incidence of metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is rising.,Deficiency in effective preventive or treatment methods of transformed keratinocytes leads to necessity of searching for new anticancer agents.,The present study aims to evaluate the possibility of using wool hydrolysates as such agents.,Commercially available compounds such as 5-fluorouracil, ingenol mebutate, diclofenac sodium salt were also used in this study.,The process of wool degradation was based on chemical pre-activation and enzymatic digestion of wool.,The effect of mentioned compounds on cell viability of squamous carcinoma cell line and healthy keratinocytes was evaluated.,The obtained data show a significantly stronger effect of selected wool hydrolysates compared to commercial compounds (p<0.05) on viability of cells.,The wool hydrolysates decreased squamous cell carcinoma cells viability by up to 67% comparing to untreated cells.,These results indicate bioactive properties of wool hydrolysates, which affect the viability of squamous carcinoma cells and decrease their number.,We hypothesize that these agents may be used topically for treatment of transformed keratinocytes in actinic keratosis and invasive squamous skin cancer in humans.
Objectives To assess the effects of treatments for non-metastatic invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin using evidence from observational studies, given the paucity of evidence from randomised controlled trials.,Design Systematic review of observational studies.,Data sources Medline, Embase, to December 2012.,Review methods Observational studies of interventions for primary, non-metastatic, invasive, SCC of the skin that reported recurrence during follow-up, quality of life, initial response to treatment, adverse events, cosmetic appearance, or death from disease.,Studies were excluded if data for primary cutaneous SCC was not separable from other data.,Data were extracted independently by two reviewers.,Meta-analysis was performed where appropriate using a random effects model to estimate the pooled proportion of an event with 95% confidence intervals.,Results 118 publications were included, covering seven treatment modalities.,Pooled estimates of recurrence of SCCs were lowest after cryotherapy (0.8% (95% confidence interval 0.1% to 2%)) and curettage and electrodesiccation (1.7% (0.5% to 3.4%)), but most treated SCCs were small, low risk lesions.,After Mohs micrographic surgery, the pooled estimate of local recurrence during variable follow-up periods from 10 studies was 3.0% (2.2% to 3.9%), which was non-significantly lower than the pooled average local recurrence of 5.4% (2.5% to 9.1%) after standard surgical excision (12 studies), and 6.4% (3.0% to 11.0%) after external radiotherapy (7 studies).,After an apparently successful initial response of SCCs to photodynamic therapy, pooled average recurrence of 26.4% (12.3% to 43.7%; 8 studies) was significantly higher than other treatments.,Evidence was limited for laser treatment (1 study) and for topical and systemic treatments (mostly single case reports or small non-comparative series with limited follow-up).,Conclusions Many observational studies have looked at different treatment modalities for SCC, but the evidence base for the effectiveness of these interventions is poor.,Comparison of outcomes after different treatments should be interpreted cautiously owing to biases inherent in the types of study included, and lack of direct comparisons to enable the estimation of relative treatment effect.,Further evidence is needed to develop a prognostic model and stratify individuals at high risk of developing SCC, to improve the evidence base for this common cancer and to optimise clinical management.,Protocol registration International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) registration number CRD42011001450.